North Platte senior Kaden Mullendore had one hit in the Panthers’ 4-3 district championship loss to Plattsburg.
Looking to end a 27-year district championship drought, the North Platte baseball team (16-7) was haunted by a late run in the sixth inning in the 4-3 postseason loss to Plattsburg (21-13) at Perkins Park on May 17.
Since winning back-to-back district championships in 1994-95, North Platte has failed to hang any baseball banners but it had a chance this season. Turning around a sluggish 2-4 start and eventually earning the No. 1 seed of the Class 2 District 15 Tournament, the Panthers had an opportunity to win a district title.
It was a less than ideal start for North Platte, giving up three runs in the top of the first inning. Plattsburg was walked twice and had three hits – including a 2-RBI double by Braden Brown – and the No. 1 seed faced a 3-0 deficit early.
Jaxon Carpenter had seven strikeouts in five innings at Perkins Park.
The Panthers wasted no time, bouncing back with some runs of their own. Wesley Meadows opened the bottom of the first inning with a base hit and after a pair of walks, the bases were loaded with no outs.
Chance Garber had a sacrifice fly, sending Meadows home, and a Plattsburg error on the ensuing batter reloaded the bases. Jaxon Carpenter had a sacrifice fly of his own deep to right field and Kaden Mullendore scored, narrowing the deficit 3-2.
Carpenter kept that strong play into the ensuing inning, striking out three of the four Plattsburg batters. The Panthers loaded the bases in the bottom of the third inning before a single out was on the board, but the Tigers’ defense forced three straight to keep a 1-run margin.
Colton Kirkham came up with a clutch hit in the bottom of the fourth inning, sneaking one down the third base line. Meadows was in scoring position and found his way across home plate on the play, tying the game.
Chance Garber had a sacrifice fly in the first inning to get the scoring started for the Panthers.
Carpenter was pulled from the mound after striking out seven batters in five innings and Kirkham was his reliever, shifting up the lineup as he was the catcher up to this point. A North Platte error on the first Plattsburg at-bat in the inning ended up being crucial, resulting in the eventual game-winning run.
Kirkham struck out the next two batters and North Platte would have headed into the dugout if it got the out instead of the error, but then the Tigers connected on a hit to left field. It ended up being an RBI single and the Panthers trailed 4-3 and closed out the inning with another Kirkham strikeout.
After John Winkler grounded out, Meadows doubled and Mullendore reached first base on a bunt as the Tigers were out of position defensively. Kirkham and Garber both popped out and once again, the Panthers left runners on.
Plattsburg opened the seventh inning with a single, but North Platte stepped up and forced three consecutive outs. Heading into the bottom of the inning, the Panthers had one last chance.
Dylan Armstrong swung at the second pitch, connecting with a line drive to left field, but it was caught. Carpenter swung right away, but it was a pop fly straight to the right fielder.
Creek Johnson stepped up to the plate with two outs and a 1-run deficit in the final inning of the district championship. The junior – like his teammates ahead of him – made contact, but it was caught by a Tiger and the Panthers’ postseason run ended.
The disappointment was evident on the faces of the North Platte baseball team in the aftermath of the contest, showing their passion and heartache over the defeat. Having not won a district game since 2018, the Panthers entered the Class 2 District 15 Tournament with an abysmal 3-17 postseason record dating back to 2009 yet was so close to moving on to the state playoffs this year.
Wesley Meadows slides into second base in his last career game for North Platte on May 17.
North Platte out hit Plattsburg nine to six – led by Meadows, Winkler and Kirkham with two each – but also had two errors. Carpenter allowed four hits and Kirkham allowed two hits, while striking out three batters in two innings.
North Platte opened the postseason off with a 7-2 win over Polo (10-13) on May 16. North Platte scored in each of the first five innings and had eight hits, while Johnson led the way on the mound with six strikeouts.
Meadows, Mullendore and Dylan Walker were the three seniors on this year’s team that have helped turn the program around the last two springs. Before 2022, more than 15 seasons had passed since North Platte won double-digit games or finished over .500, but the Panthers accomplished both of those feats each of the last two years, combining for a 27-17 record.