Platte County catcher Tyler Stearns attempts to tag a Staley runner in the bottom of the second inning in the Pirates’ 3-2 loss to the Falcons on April 18.
KANSAS CITY – In the month of April, the only baseball team who has been able to beat Platte County (11-9) was Staley (15-6) on April 18.
Having won the last seven games following a less than ideal 3-8 start to the spring, Platte County only put together three hits against Staley and lost 3-2. The first hit was by Brian Chandler in the top of the second inning when he singled on a ground ball to center field. Devin Wassman reached first base on a fielder’s choice and Tyler Stearns was walked as the first run of the game happened on a balk. Chandler was on third base at the time, so he put the Pirates up 1-0.
Staley scored three runs in the second and third innings to lead 3-1. In the top of the sixth inning, Brennan McLaughlin doubled on a line drive to center field to send Dayton Doll home and McLaughlin was left on base.
Drew Boyer was walked in the seventh inning, but the other three Pirate batters failed to get on base and they lost. Brayden Carter struck out two batters whereas Isaiah Smith and McLaughlin both had one strikeout as the trio manned the mound.
Platte County was able to get back on track with a 6-1 win over St. Joseph’s Central (7-12) to move to 7-0 at home on April 19. Both teams scored one run in the first inning and the next three innings went scoreless until Boyer had an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth inning.
The Pirates put the nail in the coffin with four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Chandler, McLaughlin and Bronson Ryan had RBI singles to push the margin to five runs.
Taylor Stamberksy had two hits as eight other Pirates had one hit. Brooklyn Hall and John Wormington shared time on the mound, combining for three strikeouts.
Platte County has now won eight of the last nine games and will look to keep that strong play going in the last eight regular season games. The Pirates will host Raytown (6-7) on April 24.