KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Zach Keith took advantage of the parity in the top end of his roster and understood the postseason challenge.
Platte County senior Maggie McBratney hits a backhand during a dual with St. Pius X on Wednesday in Kansas City.
Undoubtedly, Platte County’s veteran coach sought a playoff return, but St. Pius X ended the proceedings early in a 5-1 victory during Wednesday’s Class 2 District 8 championship dual at St. Pius X Athletic Complex. The Warriors took 2 of 3 tight doubles matches and then secured the first three wins in singles to earn the championship.
St. Pius X earned the No. 1 seed and the right to host (10-3). Platte County did not see the Warriors during the regular season, but the quality in the lineup became evident during the previous week’s individual district tournament.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the way the team finished its season,” Keith said. “I’m 100% convinced we played our best tennis of the year against St. Pius, and even though we weren’t able to get the win, we fought hard and the score was much closer than 5-1 looks on paper.”
Platte County (11-14) won the Class 2 District 8 title last season to advance to the playoffs for the first time in program history. The Pirates’ postseason ended with a shutout loss in the quarterfinals, and only seniors Maggie McBratney and Lily Fish returned to the lineup this fall.
McBratney moved back up to No. 1, while sophomore Ellie Kaser jumped to the No. 2 spot to help anchor a mostly inexperienced lineup that included freshman Macie Keith.
Platte County senior Brooklynn Mahowski hits a serve during a dual with St. Pius X on Wednesday in Kansas City.
Platte County eventually utilized senior Jackie Frame (No. 5) and sophomore Lillian Goodale (No. 6) in singles only, while senior Brooklynn Mahowski and sophomore Macy Doll played No. 3 doubles. The Pirates reeled off four straight wins in the middle of the season but went into Class 2 District 8 having went 3-6 over a difficult straight of nine duals while finishing second in the Suburban Conference White Division with a loss to Grain Valley.
However, Platte County — the No. 2 seed in Class 2 District 8 — blanked both East (Kansas City) and Bishop LeBlond in 5-0 shutouts to reach the final.
St. Pius X fell behind after McBratney and Kaser came up with an 8-5 victory at No. 1 doubles. The dynamic changes shortly afterward when Doll and Mahowski’s comeback at came up short. They trailed the Warriors team of junior Annelise Sharp and sophomore Avery Smith 7-3, came back to tie the match at 7-7 but lost 9-7.
An 8-6 win for senior Manmeet Kaur and junior Frannie Hess — the Class 2 District 8 doubles champions — over Macie Keith and Fish gave St. Pius X the 2-1 lead.
In singles, McBratney took the first set over district singles champion Dunn at No. 1 almost a week after the two meet in the district singles final. Dunn took that match and had won every other previous meeting between the two.
Platte County senior Lily Fish hits a forehand during a dual with St. Pius X on Wednesday in Kansas City.
The match ended up not mattering after St. Pius X recorded wins at No. 3, No. 5 and No. 6 to lock up the dual. Kaser also took the first set at No. 2 and led in the second against Hess, but Macie Keith also didn’t finish at No. 4 with Kaur needing to take just one more game to finish a two-set sweep.
Platte County’s Mahowski and Frame saw their careers come to an end, while Doll, Macie Keith and Goodale finished off a first season in Platte County’s varsity lineup. McBratney (singles) and Kaser and Fish (doubles) have advanced to the Class 2 MSHSAA Tennis Championships as individuals. They all make their state debuts Thursday at Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield with placement matches scheduled for Friday.
“These girls deserve a ton of credit for the work they’ve put in, and I hope this only motivates (those coming back) to continue working hard so we can be right back in the district championship again next year,” Zach Keith said.
McBratney became the second singles state qualifier ever for Platte County when she joined older sister Molly McBratney, the 2020 Class 2 District 8 champion. Fish and Kaser also finished second and became the fifth doubles team in three years to advance for the Pirates — sixth overall.
Despite all the recent success in districts, Platte County continues to seek the first individual victories at state. All five doubles teams and Molly McBratney have gone 0-2.
Platte County freshman Macie Keith hits a shot during a dual with St. Pius X on Wednesday in Kansas City.
Platte County 5, LeBlond 0
The Pirates dominated the No. 3 seed in Tuesday’s semifinal at Platte County High School.
Fish and Macie Keith held on for an 8-6 win at No. 2 doubles to help Platte County keep the sweep in play. The singles victories came from McBratney at No. 1 (6-1, 6-2) and Kaser at No. 2 (6-0, 6-0). That duo started early after an 8-0 shutout at No. 1 doubles.
McBratney and Kaser continued to play a the top spot together despite being split up for the individual portion of the postseason.
Platte County 5, East 0
The Pirates lost just four games in a dominant sweep of doubles in Monday’s first round matchup at Platte County High School.
McBratney/Kaser (No. 1) and Doll/Mahowski (No. 3) both won by scores of 8-0, while Macie Keith and Fish were solid 8-4 victors at No. 2 for Platte County. The dual ended after Kaser (No. 2) and Goodale (No. 6) took 6-0, 6-0 shutouts in their singles matches.
