DEARBORN – Coming up one run shy of a district title, the North Platte baseball team has a chip on its shoulder this spring.
North Platte senior Colton Kirkham pitches and catches and will play at the next level.
Improving from 6-15 in 2021 to 11-10 in 2022 to 16-7 in 2023, North Platte plans to stay in that groove with even more wins in 2024. The Panthers didn’t lose many players, bringing back nine guys who started throughout last season, which ended with a 4-3 loss to Plattsburg in the Class 2 District 15 Championship.
“We’re starting the season with a lot of veteran players who are excited for the challenges ahead of us this season,” North Platte head baseball coach Daniel Atkinson said. “We have a great group of young men that have shown great leadership in our first few weeks of practice.”
The North Platte boys have made strides in multiple sports over the past few years, going to the state championship in football two seasons after back-to-back winless seasons and having the most successful basketball season since 2005 this past winter. A lot of that credit goes to this senior class, six of which are on the baseball team.
Colton Kirkham will continue his baseball career at the next level as the catcher has already committed to Kansas City Kansas Community College. Kirkham also pitches for North Platte, along with four other seniors and some underclassmen.
“Our pitching situation is in good shape. We have a lot of veterans who have gotten stronger in the offseason and some underclassman that are making great strides in our first few weeks,” Atkinson said.
Seniors Chance Garber and Creek Johnson will lead the infield, alongside junior Ben Jaycox and sophomore Hunter Palmer. Kaysen Iske, Dylan Armstrong and Ryan York are expected to man the outfield with Jaxson Carpenter filling in when he’s not pitching.
“The key to having a successful season is going to be in the little details of the game that are easy to take for granted. If we can stay focussed on putting the team first and individual achievement second, we will be able to achieve our goals,” Atkinson said.
Senior John Winkler is the designated hitter in his second year at North Platte after transferring from Northland Christian. Freshmen Collin Kersten and Grady Coons – along with sophomore Gage Starr – are some underclassmen looking to compete in the loaded Panther lineup.