When looking to succeed the founder and architect for a respectably successful program, Scott Blakley brings the built-in knowledge and understanding of the foundation and methods better than most. He takes over as Platte County’s head coach after a stint of three years as an assistant following a high school career as a player in the boys program. The Pirates became a consistent contender under Zach Keith and now have the opportunity to continue recent momentum under new leadership.
“It has been weird not having my coach, friend, and mentor, Zach Keith, at the courts,” Blakley said. “This year is one focused on tradition and what Coach keep started.”
Platte County made the first playoff appearance in program history in 2023 and nearly made a return trip last fall. Despite the team setback, the Pirates also again sent a doubles team, while Maggie McBratney became the first all-state individual in program history, placing eighth in the Class 2 singles bracket.
However, Platte County must replace McBratney at the top of the lineup in addition to Lily Fish (No. 3) and Jackie Frame (No. 5) from last year’s singles lineup plus doubles contributor Brooklynn Mahowski. A three-year starter, McBratney made the Class 2 District 8 final and joined older sister Molly McBratney as the only singles state qualifiers in program history. Fish teamed with Ellie Kaser to continue a streak of three straight seasons with a doubles team to advance out of districts.
Now a junior, Kaser returns as the heir apparent No. 1 player after going from outside the starting lineup to No. 2 as a sophomore.
Platte County also returns sophomore Macie Keith as the likely No. 2 in a move up from No. 4, while junior Lillian Goodale also spent the majority of last season in the top six, as well. The Pirates uniquely used eight players in the postseason lineup with only four returning.
Due to the turnover, Blakley continues to assess juniors Macy Doll, Veyda Chleborad, Ainsley Scheib and Addison Fleming; sophomores Halley Jenni and Katelyn Newberry and freshman Clare Hayter. Doll teamed with Mahowski in the latter half of the season at No. 3 doubles but played limited varsity singles.
Chleborad also brings prior experience, while Hayter comes into the program having taken lessons prior to high school, giving her a chance to contribute right away.
“The expectation for this team will be to compete for district and conference championships,” Blakley said. “In order to have success, we are going to have to be scrappy and fight for every little thing.”
Platte County showed that fight last year against a tough schedule, finishing 11-14 overall and coming in second in the Suburban Conference White Division standings with the lone loss in league play to Grain Valley. The Pirates then built on the momentum of individual runnerup finishes for Maggie McBratney (singles) and Kaser/Fish (doubles) in the Class 2 District 8 individual tournament to make the team final, as well.
After two straight shutouts, Platte County came out of doubles down 2-1 to St. Pius X and then lost the first three singles match in a season-ending loss.
McBratney went on to earn the first state victory for an individual entrant in Platte County’s history, ultimately doing enough to make the podium in a memorable milestone for the program. The Pirates’ five state qualifying doubles teams of the past three years have all gone 0-2, including the same outcome for Fish and Kaser last year.
Platte County must first figure out this year’s lineup and then work toward achieving more postseason success. St. Pius X remains in Class 2 District 8 after losing in the state quarterfinals to Thomas Jefferson Independent in the next match after the win over the Pirates to reach the playoffs.
