Platte County freshman Emma Koeneke didn’t start the season as the Pirates’ No. 1 option at pitcher. She finished it as a Class 3 Missouri Fastpitch Coaches Association all-state selection.

ROSS MARTIN/Citizen photo
Platte County freshman Emma Koeneke delivers a pitch during the Class 3 District 15 championship game against Smithville this past season. Koeneke earned a spot on the Missouri Fastpitch Coaches Association Class 3 all-state team.

One of just two freshmen to make the list in Class 3, Koeneke and a potent offense helped lead Platte County to a share of the Suburban Conference Blue Division title back to the Class 3 District 15 championship game despite having no seniors on the roster. She carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning of what ended up a 2-1 loss in eight innings to Smithville.

Koeneke finished with a team-high 142 2/3 innings, compiling a 17-6 record, one save and 105 strikeouts to go with a 1.71 ERA. She struck out a season-high 12 in a shutout win over East Newton (six innings) — nine days after she threw a three-inning perfect game in a Blue Division victory over Raytown South.

In addition to her performance on the mound, Koeneke hit .287 with four home runs (tied for the team lead), six doubles and one triple, while driving in a team-high 30 runs and scoring 16 more. Her .537 slugging percentage ranked fourth for the Pirates behind sophomore Paige Rocha (.842 with four home runs) and juniors Janessa Barmann and Taylor Farr.

Koeneke made the all-state second team along with Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau) freshman pitcher Hailey Kutz, who led the Bulldogs to the Class 3 state title game. Platte County beat eventual state champion Monett twice during the regular season.

SOFTBALL POSTSEASON HONORS

MISSOURI FASTPITCH COACHES ASSOCIATION ALL-STATE

Class 3

Second team

P — Emma Koeneke, fr., Platte County

MFCA ALL-REGION

CLASS 4

First team

IF — Kate Kobayashi, jr., Park Hill South

Second team

P — Grace Dieleman, jr., Park Hill South

CLASS 3

First team

P — Emma Koeneke, fr., Platte County; IF — Paige Rocha, so., Platte County

Second team

OF — Taylor Farr, jr., Platte County

CLASS 2

Second team

IF — Alley Rickel, sr., North Platte

CLASS 1

P — Karah Dunham, so., West Platte; OF — Lea Moose, jr., West Platte

ALL-CLASS 4 DISTRICT 16

First team

P — Gracie Dieleman, jr., Park Hill South; C — Meggen Keller, so., Park Hill South; Kali Day, so., Park Hill; IF — Kate Kobayashi, jr., Park Hill South; OF — Chantice Phillips, so., Park Hill South; U — Peyton Morehouse, jr., Park Hill

Second team

IF — Sam Ahrendt, jr., Park Hill South; Chloe Strickland, fr., Park Hill; Samantha Bertoncino, fr., Park Hill; OF — Leslie Callahan, so., Park Hill South; Taylor Johnson, sr., Park Hill South

ALL-CLASS 3 DISTRICT 15

First team

P — Emma Koeneke, fr., Platte County; IF — Paige Rocha, so., Platte County; Halle Magee, fr., Platte County; Shayla Kohler, jr., Platte County; OF — Taylor Farr, jr., Platte County

Second team

P — Gracie Erickson, so., Platte County; IF — Stephanie Carroll, jr., Platte County; OF — Janessa Barmann, jr., Platte County

ALL-CLASS 2 DISTRICT 14

First team

IF — Alley Rickel, sr., North Platte

Second team

P — Jordyn Smith, so., North Platte; OF — Gracie Roach, sr., North Platte; McKenna Fulton, sr., North Platte

ALL-CLASS 1 DISTRICT 14

First team

P — Karah Dunham, so., West Platte; OF — Lea Moose, jr., West Platte

Second team

C — Sikoya Richard, sr., West Platte

ALL-SUBURBAN CONFERENCE GOLD DIVISION

First team

U — Peyton Morehouse, jr., Park Hill

Honorable mention

C — Kali Day, so., Park Hill; IF — Chloe Strickland, fr., Park Hill

ALL-SUBURBAN CONFERENCE RED DIVISION

First team

P — Gracie Dieleman, jr., Park Hill South; C — Meggen Keller, so., Park Hill South; IF — Jessie Hagen, so., Park Hill South; Kate Kobayashi, jr., Park Hill South; OF — Taylor Johnson, sr., Park Hill South

Second team

IF — Emma Beuerlein, so., Park Hill South; OF — Maddi Buckler, so., Park Hill South

Honorable mention

OF — Leslie Callahan, so., Park Hill South

ALL-SUBURBAN CONFERENCE BLUE DIVISION

First team

P — Emma Koeneke, fr., Platte County; IF — Shayla Kohler, jr., Platte County; Paige Rocha, so., Platte County; OF — Taylor Farr, jr., Platte County; U — Gracie Erickson, so., Platte County