For all of the unquestionable successes, Platte County’s last three seasons have all come to the same disappointing conclusion. The Pirates have not been able to solve Kearney in the Class 4 District 8 championship game — the finishing point for a pair of 20-win campaigns and an inspired late surge in a 13-14 season back in 2022.
Now, a small but experienced senior class along with junior and two-time Missouri Fastpitch Coaches Association all-state junior Bryli Seifert and sophomore standout Kinleigh Howren hope to push Platte County back to the playoffs for the first time since finishing third in Class 4 in 2021.
“We have a ton of talent and returning players, so we have very high expectations for this season,” said Platte County coach Callie Peoples, who goes into this fall with a 127-60 career record with the Pirates. “We have talked about our goals for the season, and that includes competing and winning a state championship. Many of our conversations for the season have already included doing the little things to get there.”
The talent includes bringing back eight of nine regular starters from last season plus one more back on the roster from two years ago. The hopes to make a deep playoff run for the first time since collecting-back-to-back third-place trophies in 2020 and 2021 comes from the potential strength of an offense that averaged 9.1 runs per game last fall during a 20-8 season.
A two-year starter at shortstop on the Division I radar for recruiting, Seifert leads the way after posting team-bests in batting average (.437) and slugging percentage (.873). She belted five home runs with 18 of her 31 hits going for extra bases, scored 26 runs and drove in 25 despite teams regularly pitching around her late in the season.
However, Platte County’s first-year starters fueled last year’s strong season, which included a 12-2 record in Suburban Conference White Division play.
Howren started at third base and posted a team-best on-base percentage of .539 from the leadoff spot — just .001 better than Seifert’s. She led the Pirates in hits with 32 and posted .416 batting average while collecting eight doubles, three triples, 33 runs scored and 21 RBIs.
Platte County also received a breakout performance from senior catcher Gwen Duncan (.394 batting average, .467 on-base percentage, one home run, 31 runs scored and a team-high 14 stolen bases) after she won a competition for the starting spot and never let go through consistent play at the plate and in the field (two errors). The Pirates also completely rebuilt the outfield with juniors Lillian Talbot (.349 batting average, nine doubles, 20 runs, 14 RBIs) and Kelly Bullano (.402 on-base percentage, four doubles, three triples, 27 RBIs and a team-high 34 runs) both back.
Bullano started in center field after missing her freshman season with a torn ACL, while Talbot played left field.
Platte County senior Marlee Snyder-Richardson improved from a spot contributor to a regular at second base and slugged .509 with a pair of home runs, 23 runs scored and 16 RBIs in a steadily lengthening lineup throughout last season. The Pirates will end up bringing back the entire infield, although the first base duties will again depend on the distribution of innings for the pitchers.
Last year, Platte County junior Reagan Ball took over the No. 1 starter duties and threw 97 innings and compiled a 12-4 record, striking out 54 and walking only six. She finished with a 2.74 ERA. However, the Pirates used senior Dani Salisbury — the ace as a freshman and sophomore — 11 games, and she went 7-4 with 48 strikeouts and nine walks last year, providing a steady complement.
Ball and Salisbury alternated at first base when the other was on the mound. While Salisbury hit four home runs in an otherwise difficult season at the plate, Ball ranked behind only Seifert and Howren in batting average (.408) and on-base percentage (.468) with six extra-base hits. Salisbury hit .400 or better both as a freshman and sophomore and certainly boasts bounceback potential.
“We have the experience; we have the talent,” Peoples said. “it just comes down to putting it all together, doing the small things, and getting the job done.”
Platte County does need to replace a trio of seniors, including a 2024 breakout performer and emotional leader. Haley Schank’s lone season as a starter (right field) finished with a .675 slugging percentage, seven doubles, two triples and five home runs that produced 26 RBIs and 23 runs scored. However, the Pirates have multiple options to step into that role or contribute at other spots.
Evie Thrasher, a senior, returns after starting in right field as a sophomore but stepping away from the team last year for personal reasons. In 2023, she produced a .464 on-base percentage, 22 runs scored and eight stolen bases as a slap-hitting lefty.
Platte County freshmen Gracelynn Shippee and Eva Bane both play first base and outfield, while sophomore Brynna Peterson is another outfielder with the ability to play at second base. A year ago, Peterson appeared in 10 games and collected two hits — one double — and one RBI in three at-bats to go with three walks and 12 runs scored mostly as a courtesy runner for Ball. She reached base in five of her six plate appearances.
