Platte County off to 3-1 start after home opener, trip south to Gulf Shores

Platte County made the most of limited opportunities and then cruised to an 11-1 win during a quick home opener ahead of a spring break road trip to play in the Gulf Shores Classic. The Pirates opened the first week with three wins in four games, a hot start for a roster with big expectations this season.

Last Saturday against Winnetonka, Platte County junior Rocco Marriott blasted a three-run, go-ahead home run in the bottom of the first inning, and the Pirates scored seven runs on their first four hits to overcome an early deficit at Platte County High School. The Pirates then pulled away with four more in the bottom of the sixth, and junior Andrew Edsall, a first-year transfer, delivered the walkout win with an infield single to score junior Brennan McLaughlin with the bases loaded.

McLaughlin finished at third base but started on the mound, allowing just one unearned run on one hit and a walk in 3 2/3 innings. He struck out three.

Platte County sophomore Evan Magnuson then made an impressive varsity debut, strikeout out four in 2 1/3 innings. The Pirates backed the pitching performances with eight hits and seven walks.

Up 7-1 after Magnuson worked around the only hit and walk he allowed with a double play and a strikeout, Platte County opened the bottom of the sixth with three straight singles from seniors Liam Blacklock — pinch-hitting for first-year starting junior catcher Ian Gold — Taylor Stambersky and Dayton Doll. Blacklock came home on an error, while Doll earned an RBI after finishing 1-for-2 with two walks. He scored the third of his three runs after McLaughlin, Marriott and senior outfielder Bronson Ryan all walked.

Edsall then collected his first hit at Platte County on a 1-2 pitch to bring home McLaughlin from third.

Winnetonka took the 1-0 lead against McLaughlin with a manufactured run in the top of the first inning. He allowed a leadoff walk, and the runner advanced to second on a passed ball before a single from junior pitcher Mason Crockett put runners at the corner with one out. A groundout brought home the first run, but McLaughlin immediately induced an inning-ending groundout.

The 1-0 lead lasted four batters.

After Stambersky grounded out, Crockett walked Doll and McLaughlin, and Marriott hammered a 2-1 pitch well over the centerfield fence to put Platte County ahead. The 3-1 lead went to 7-1 in the second after Gold walked with one out, and Stambersky tripled down the left-field line. Doll walked, and McLaughlin followed with a two-run double roped to the wall in left field.

Doll scored all the way from first base, controversially avoiding the catcher at the plate after appearing to be tagged out. Stambersky, a returning all-state second baseman, went 2-for-4, while Ryan walked twice.

Gulf Shores Classic

After a rainout on Monday, Platte County split a Tuesday doubleheader in Gulf Shores, Alabama, with Gardendale (Alabama) and Jefferson City then closed with a win Wednesday against Billingsley (Alabama). The Pirates improved to 3-1 and take a two-game winning streak into Monday’s Suburban Conference White Division opener at home against Belton.

Gardendale won Tuesday’s opener 12-3 after building a big lead and then piling on six runs in the bottom of the fifth.

Platte County used four different pitchers but trailed by five runs going into the top of the third. Marriott singled with one out and stole second before scoring on a single from junior Brooks Hall, moving into the starting first base role this season. The Pirates trailed 5-1 at that point and were down five again when McLaughlin hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to bring home senior outfielder Patrick McCool in the fourth.

Gardendale stranded a pair in the inning and then allowed only one run in the fifth after Platte County senior right fielder Brock Fowler, a transfer from Staley, led off with a double. He scored on Edsall’s groundout to close the deficit to 6-3, but the Rockets came up with sixth in the bottom of the frame against senior reliever Owen Rawlings, who walked three and allowed three hits while striking out one in his season debut.

Hall started on the mound and walked two and gave up three hits in the first, while senior right-hander Wes Chiddix, signed to Missouri Western, gave up three runs — two earned in the second . Both struck out one before giving way to junior Zach Brown for the next two innings. He struck out a pair in his debut for the Pirates and allowed only one unearned run.

Gardendale took advantage of eight walks total and did not have to bat in the sixth due to the time limit.

Platte County came right back with a dramatic 7-6 win over Jefferson City, which also made the trip south for this showcase event. The Jays scored three in the bottom of the seventh to close within one but time ran out after an RBI groundout for the second out of the inning.

A six-run fourth inning staked Platte County to a seemingly comfortable lead with McLaughlin and Magnuson combining for a solid 5 1/3 innings. McLaughlin started and threw the first three-plus innings with a pair of strikeouts but ended up shared with a run in the fourth after exiting with a full count on the first batter.

Magnuson issued the walk charged to McLaughlin and then gave up a single before limiting Jefferson City to just one run.

Platte County came right back in the top of the fifth to extend the lead to 7-1 on a leadoff single from Fowler and an RBI double for Ryan on a well-placed hit to center field. However, the Jays caught him stealing third and struck out Edsall to limit the damage.

Magnuson ended up going 2 1/3 innings with two strikeouts, while allowing two runs — only one earned. He exited with one out in the sixth, and Belcher worked around an inherited runner and a walk to keep Platte County ahead 7-3 after Jefferson City scored a pair on Magnuson in the fifth. The Jays then put together a stretch of three singles and a walk with one out in the seventh to close within 7-5 before the groundout ended the game.

Platte County’s six runs in the third ended up being enough.

MMcLaughlin led off with a double before Marriott singled and Fowler walked to load the bases. Hall followed with a two-run single, and Ryan drove in Fowler with Platte County’s fourth hit of the inning. The Pirates led 3-0 at that point but immediately created another big opportunity after freshman catcher Boston Wasserman was hit by a pitch to load the bases again.

Stambersky followed with an RBI single, and Doll scored two more with the bases still loaded and matched Ryan and Hall with two RBIs.

In Wednesday’s finale, Platte County senior Poul Gratereaux-Baez — another recent transfer — threw four scoreless innings in an 11-6 win over Billingsley, which gave up the first seven runs before a late rally. Doll went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored, while McLaughlin and McCool added a double each in the Pirates’ 12-hit attack.

Platte County led 4-0 after the top of the third. A walk for Blacklock and back-to-back singles for McCool and Gold loaded the bases for the top of the lineup, and the Pirates cashed in with a two-run single for Stambersky, who finished 2-for-3 with two walks, and an RBI single for Doll to plate the first three runs.

However, Stambersky was erased trying to steal second prior to Doll’s hit, and he ended up cut down at second trying to stretch the single into a double.

Platte County started a rally back up with McLaughlin’s double, and he scored on a single from Marriott. The Pirates added three in the fifth with Stambersky and Doll starting the frame with back-to-back singles. Stambersky scored on an error, and Fowler plated two with a single to left field.

After Gratereaux-Baez exited after allowing only two hits and striking out four, Billingsley scored one against Edsall in an inning of relief and then put up five agains sophomore Christian Sipes, making his varsity debut. The Bears were within 7-4 going to the seventh but gave up four in the top of the inning without allowing a hit.

Platte County loaded the bases on a hit by pitch for sophomore Matt Cisco and walks for seniors Chase Hanlin and McCool. Ryan and Stambersky forced in runs with two more walks before Doll increased the Pirates’ lead to 10-4 with a sacrifice fly for the second out.

The inning could have ended, but Platte County senior Brady Davis, mostly playing defense at third base when McLaughlin pitches, reached after the center fielder dropped a fly ball. Ryan scored on the play, but the Pirates also stranded two.

Billingsley scored two more in the bottom of the seventh but stranded two against Sipes.