Coming off the third state championship in program history and second in a span of four years, graduation combined with external circumstances to create a daunting amount of roster attrition.
However, Platte County brings back the Missouri Baseball Coaches Association Class 5 player of the year Brennan McLaughlin as the centerpiece plus a pair of additional all-state performers in first baseman Andrew Edsall and pitcher Evan Magnuson with no intention of shying away from the inescapable internal expectations to remain a contender. The Pirates play one of the most challenging schedule’s in the state, fully intending to challenge the talented newcomers to fill in gaps and contribute to maintaining the active run of success.
“The expectation is to get back to the state finals and to play one game at a time — not to overlook or underlook any team we will face this year,” Platte County coach John Sipes said. “I am really excited for this upcoming season. I believe we will have the right mix of veteran and newcomers to come together and play as one unit to compete for another district title and state title.”
With 20 or more wins in three of the past four seasons, Platte County overcame an early deficit to almost improbably earn a run-rule-shortened 14-4 victory over previously No. 1-ranked Vianney in last year’s Class 5 state title game. The Pirates ended up with eight all-state performers but graduated three as part of a deep and accomplished senior class and saw two more lost due to early enrollment this winter to begin pursuit of collegiate football careers.
Platte County goes into this season facing the potential of a move up to Class 6 for the postseason and only a handful of returners who were major pieces of last year’s magical run that started with a near no-hitter of St. Pius X in the district title game, continued with a miraculous survival in a best-of-three state quarterfinal series with Webb City and concluded with vastly different back-to-back wins over Rockwood Summit and Vianney to secure the title.
McLaughlin leads the way. He earned a starting spot midway through his freshman season and continues to carve out one of the best careers in Platte County history as both a critical part of the left half of the infield and pitcher.
Now a two-time all-state pick, McLaughlin might be less known for his work as a pitcher but now provides a stable presence at top of this year’s staff that can hopefully allow for an inexperienced batting lineup to gain experience. He started last year’s Class 5 District 8 state championship game against St. Pius X and flirted with a no-hitter, eventually finishing off a complete game with 12 strikeouts in a 5-1 victory.
McLaughlin started both the state semifinal and championship game, and Magnuson came on in relief for Platte County in both and earned the win over Vianney (39-2), going four innings and allowing only two runs to a lineup with multiple Division I signees and commits. He debuted on varsity last season and appeared in a team-high 16 games and finishing with a 5-0 record, striking out 33 and walking 18 with an ERA of 2.51 in 39 innings of work.
McLaughlin led the Pirates in innings pitched (50), wins (nine), strikeouts (60) and ERA (1.40) while walking only 15.
Platte County returns three of the top five pitchers from last season with senior Zach Brown the other experienced arm. His breakout junior season saw him throw 23 2/3 innings with two saves and 17 strikeouts and 13 walks.
Most notably, Brown threw six innings in the decisive game against Webb City with Platte County’s staff fully taxed and hitting pitch count limits. The Pirates lost the opener of the series where all three games were decided by one run and the first and third went extra innings.
In addition to the three returners, Platte County seniors Trent Belcher (4 1/3 innings) and Owen Bane (5 1/3 innings) recorded one save apiece last season and have a chance to earn more time on the mound.
Platte County’s lineup features more unknowns with McLaughlin shifting back to shortstop after playing the majority of the past two seasons at third base. The Pirates plan to put a pair of sophomores around him with Nolan Sipes at third base and Beckett Hall at second after losing three all-state infielders.
The lone holdover from Platte County’s 2022 Class 5 state title and a four-year starter, Dayton Doll ended his career as the program’s all-time leader in hits — first as a second baseman and then a steady shortstop presence. He made the all-state list twice, as did second baseman Taylor Stambersky despite suffering a significant injury that cost him the latter part of his senior season.
That opened a spot back up for Liam Blacklock, who provided steady play down the stretch and helped avoid any dropoff on offense. He also ended up as an honorable mention all-state pick while Stambersky pinch-hit in both the semifinal and championship game victories, delivering a two-run double in the bottom of the sixth to plate the Pirates’ final runs against Rockwood Summit and then coming up with a walkoff bases-loaded single in the bottom of the fifth to clinch the win over Vianney.
Each of the past two years, McLaughlin made the all-state team as an infielder, moving up from second to first team as a junior in addition to the POY nod. He led Platte County with 15 doubles and five home runs while setting a school record for RBIs in a season with 45, batting .387 while slugging .694 with a .478 on-base percentage. His walkoff two-run double in the bottom of the ninth provided a dramatic conclusion to the newly reformatted best-of-three state quarterfinal series at Webb City after the Pirates fell behind in the top half of the inning.
A transfer from Kearney, Edsall’s first year with Platte County saw him become a key piece of the lineup and now with a chance to see more time at first base with Brooks Hall foregoing his senior season. Both were all-state performers last season with Edsall honored as a utility player with a .329 batting average and .571 slugging percentage, bolstered by seven doubles, two triples and two home runs — the second a towering two-run blast to stake the Pirates to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first against Rockwood Summit in the state semifinal.
Edsall also appeared in nine games on the mound with 12 innings of work, going 1-0 with 11 strikeouts and 10 walks. He played first base when Hall, who earned his all-state honors as a pitcher, went to the mound.
Hall and all-state centerfielder Rocco Marriott have both begun spring football practice at the University of Central Florida, opening up additional spots.
Platte County appears to have four outfielders competing for time with no returners. In addition to Marriott, the Pirates graduated right fielder Brock Fowler plus Bronson Ryan and Patrick McCool from a capable left-field rotation.
While junior Devin Lumm appears to have the inside track in center, Platte County juniors Hank Fowler and Matt Cisco plus sophomore Hank Marriott in the mix for playing time. None of the four have significant varsity experience.
Lumm had a single and a walk in three plate appearances as a sophomore but scored six times, while Cisco appeared in seven games with four plate appearances, also with a single and a walk while scoring seven times. Both saw significant time as courtesy runners.
Platte County senior Ian Gold and sophomore Boston Wassermann provide two capable bats and options at catcher. Gold broke out as a junior and ended up with a .328 average and .435 on-base percentage while putting up five doubles among his 19 hits and driving in 10. However, he didn’t play in the final two games after suffering a back injury in warmups for Friday’s semifinal.
Wassermann started both to conclude a freshman season where he appeared in 17 games and totaled seven hits (one double) and eight walks.
