North Platte forges comeback in KCI win over East Buchanan

North Platte grabbed its second KCI Conference win of the year a day ahead of a big rivalry game.

With three runs in the top of the second, the Panthers led most of the way in an 8-6 victory against East Buchanan on Tuesday, April 18 in Gower, Mo. Six of the eight runs scored were unearned with the Bulldogs committing six errors total.

East Buchanan led 1-0 after the first after plating one run against North Platte starter Garret Lamar. He ended up allowing seven hits and two walks in six innings, but only one of the five runs scored against him were earned. The Panthers committed four errors.

Jacob Stubbs, a senior, scored two runs for North Platte with a walk and a single. All six of North Platte’s hits were singles.

Lawson 17, North Platte 0, 5 innings

The Panthers were no-hit Thursday, April 20 at Dean Park in Dearborn, Mo. and suffered a second straight KCI loss. 

One night after losing to rival West Platte, North Platte managed just four walks in five innings and stranded three baserunners. Lawson scored nine in the first inning and at least one in every inning against Panthers pitchers Caine Huffman and Mark Fisher.

North Platte 15, University Academy 4, 5 innings

The Panthers made it two wins in a span of four days last week.

With six runs in the second and nine in the fourth, North Platte took a run-rule shortened win in nonconference play Friday, April 21 at Dean Park. Jacob Oliver held on to earn the win, despite allowing four runs on six hits in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out seven.

Stubbs came on in relief in the fifth to record the final out.

North Platte’s offense came from up and down the lineup. Blake Gibson, a freshman, drove in three runs with just one hit, while Hunter Oliver, Huffman, Trevor  Lamar, Remington Wilson and Jacob Oliver all drove in two apiece.

Huffman had a double, while Trevor Lamar doubled and tripled. Hunter Oliver scored three runs.

West Platte 12, St. Joseph Christian 2, 5 innings

The Bluejays won a third straight and finished off  a doubleheader sweep Saturday, April 22 at Benner Park in Weston, Mo.

Six runs in the bottom of the first staked West Platte to a big lead, and after losing the shutout in the top of the fifth, the Bluejays scored three in the bottom of the fifth for a walkoff win. They led 9-2 entering the bottom of the fifth, and Grant Eagen provided an RBI single, while two other runners scored on miscues.

Gavin Davis came home with the walkoff run on a wild pitch.

Eagen also singled in a run in the first, and Alec Carson knocked in two with a two-out single to left field. Kyle Tabaka followed for West Platte with another run-scoring single to make it 6-0. The Bluejays scored in four of five innings, and Eagen finished with three RBIs.

West Platte 17, DeKalb 2, 5 innings

The Bluejays needed only four innings for a win in the first game of the doubleheader Saturday, April 22 at Benner Park in Weston, Mo.

Davis and Connor McNair drove in three runs apiece, and West Platte led 2-0, 3-1 and 12-2 after each of the first three innings. The Bluejays plated five in the fourth to produce the 15-run lead. McNair hit a two-run double to start the scoring in the fifth, and Jasper Basel, Jack Summers and Jonah Vandel added RBIs in the inning.

Lawson 15, West Platte 0, 5 innings

The Cardinals pulled the season sweep of KCI meetings, scoring in four of five innings Tuesday, April 18 at Benner Park in Weston, Mo.

West Platte had just two hits —Basel’s leadoff double in the bottom of the second and reserve Ryan Borylo’s single in the seventh. Phillip Pattison had two of the Bluejays’ three walks.