For the second straight season, the Platte County softball team has won the Class 4 District 8 Tournament and has moved on to the state quarterfinals.
The Pirates - who were one of the final four teams standing last season – only returned three starters from last fall as they lost six starters from the 2021 senior class. What was supposed to be a rebuilding year for Platte County has turned into another historical season.
“We have told them that everybody has to play their best,” Platte County head coach Callie Peoples said. “It can’t just be a couple of people who carry the team and a couple of people who do their jobs, so we are looking at it like that going forward.”
Platte County junior Demi Riechers looks towards the Pirate dugout and celebrates after hitting a double in the Class 4 District 8 Tournament.
Platte County entered the postseason tournament with a 17-9 record and the number two seed in the tournament. In the first round the Pirates took down William Chrisman with ease, winning 19-3.
Platte County dug itself into a hole early in the second-round matchup verses Kearney when the Pirates had three errors and gave up three runs in the opening inning. Platte County trailed 4-3 entering the fifth inning, but it stepped up in the final three innings and defeated the Bulldogs 13-4.
“I was a little nervous after that first inning when we had some errors and let some runs score because Kearney is a good team. It was really nice to see them fight, come back and play until the end,” Peoples said.
Platte County found itself taking on a five seed in the district championship when Excelsior Springs won its first two contests in the tournament. The Pirates took an early lead, but the Tigers fought back to tie the game 4-4 in the top of the fourth inning.
Platte County responded when Abby Reynolds had a 3-run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Pirates added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning with a pair of RBIs by Allison Gill and Demi Riechers.
“We told them that the game time is running out and they need to score now, or it might be too late. They listened and got it done by hitting the ball and scoring some runs,” Peoples said.
The Pirate defense closed out the district championship by not allowing another Tiger run and Riechers caught a pop fly with two outs in the top of the seventh inning to end the contest.
“We have a lot of young girls who are getting a lot of great experience. That will carry them into their junior and senior years as well, and that is good for the future,” Peoples said.
Platte County has had five final four appearances in school history with a state championship victory in 2008. The Pirates will make another state appearance if they win their next game.
Platte County (19-9) is set to take on Nevada (20-10) in the Class 4 State Quarterfinals on Oct. 21, at 5:00 p.m. The Pirates will be on the road as the contest will be at Nevada High School.