There were no true nervous moments, and Platte County didn’t mind putting the finishing touches on early in Wednesday’s Class 2 District 8 championship dual. The Pirates earned the second playoff berth in program history with a mostly tidy 5-2 victory over St. Pius X at Clayview Country Club in Kansas City.
Platte County senior Macy Doll hits a shot during a singles match in the Class 2 District 8 championship dual with St. Pius X on Wednesday at Clayview Country Club in Kansas City.
The two teams have played each other in each of the past four Class 2 District 8 finals with Platte County winning the first and most recent in that series.
“There was a lot of tense tennis,” Platte County coach Scott Blakley said. “You could feel the tension. I can’t say more about the girls and their resilience and willingness to fight through. I’m just so proud of them.”
Platte County (14-2) won the regular season dual between the two teams 6-3 to earn the top seed and a bye in the seven-team bracket. Both swept semifinals Tuesday afternoon, but the championship ended up moved to the middle of the school day at an indoor facility due to expected persistent rain.
St. Pius X took a big step toward reversing the result with an 8-1 win at No. 1 doubles from seniors Evie Ward and Sydney Mitchell over Platte County senior Ellie Kaser and junior Macie Keith — the Class 2 District 8 individual tournament champions Ward won the singles title.
However, Platte County took a 2-1 lead into singles after comfortable wins at No. 2 from senior Macy Doll and sophomore Clare Hayter (8-3) and juniors Katelyn Newberry and Jayne Muir at No. 3 (8-3). Doll and Hayter were especially motivated for the match after just missing a state berth and finishing third in the individual district tournament just five days earlier.
“We came out and we dominated at No. 2,” Blakley said. “Macy and Clare, honestly, they were just in full control. They were a lot a bit bummed about what happened on Friday, and they used that to motivate themselves.”
Platte County junior Jayne Muir hits a shot during a singles match in the Class 2 District 8 championship dual with St. Pius X on Wednesday at Clayview Country Club in Kansas City.
Muir earned the first singles win at No. 6 6-0, 6-0, and St. Pius X then pulled within 3-2 in the dual score after senior Avery Smith beat Keith in straight sets at No. 2.
Platte County then closed out the result with Newberry earning a 6-2, 6-2 victory at No. 4 while Doll provided the clincher 7-6 (1), 6-0 at No. 5. The last two matches weren’t completed. Doll trailed 3-0 in the first set but fought back to earn the victory. The Pirates now advance to play Barstow (7-6) a Class 2 state quarterfinal Tuesday at Platte County High School.
The winner moves on to the state semifinals and guarantees a state trophy. Platte County’s first playoff appearance in 2023 ended with a 5-0 loss to Thomas Jefferson Independent in the quarterfinals.
“We went into the match (with St. Pius x) that we’re going to win and we’re going to win the next point,” Doll said.
Platte County went into this season with a deep experienced lineup. Kaser, Doll and Keith have all been in the top six over the past three seasons, while the other three were all on last year’s team that lost 5-0 to St. Pius X in the Class 2 District 8 championship dual.
The 14 dual wins currently sit tied for second-most in program history behind a 2012 team that went 17-2.
“I feel like we’re all super excited right now, and we finally won (a district title),” Keith added. “Hopefully we’re able to make it to state and all play our best whenever we play Barstow.”
Platte County’s 5-0 win included losing just two games total in doubles with sweeps at No. 1 and No. 2, and Kaser and Doll went 6-0, 6-0 in their singles matches to make quick work of Kearney on Tuesday at Platte County High School. Doll earned the clinching victory in both district duals.
