Platte County scoops up 4 more wins in perfect week of play

With the pitching staff stretching toward limits, Platte County didn’t want to create a situation where momentum might stall.

Oak Park rallied to create a tie in the top of the seventh of an already back-and-forth matchup Friday afternoon, but Platte County senior all-state first baseman Andrew Edsall, junior pinch-runner Brandon Reynolds and junior Hank Fowler combined to create some unique walk-off magic. The Pirates survived for an 8-7 victory at Platte County High School, running the current win streak to six straight.

Platte County (8-4) navigated another busy week, this time going undefeated across four games and completing a stretch of 10 games in just 12 days.

Edsall’s double with one out in the bottom of the seventh represented the only one of Platte County’s hits to go for extra bases. Reynolds came in to run, and Fowler, pinch-hitting for junior right fielder Devin Lumm, dumped the first pitch he saw into right field for a run-scoring single. Reynolds scored standing up, and the Pirates celebrated another pivotal moment for a blended roster of select all-state returners from last year’s Class 5 state title team and newcomers building experience against a tough schedule.

Platte County used a combination of senior starter Owen Bane (three innings, four strikeouts), junior Brock Dye (2 1/3 innings, three strikeouts and three walks) and senior Zach Brown (1 2/3 innings) on the mound, but each allowed at least two runs. The Pirates staked Bane to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a senior shortstop Brennan McLaughlin’s RBI single and a pair of Oak Park miscues.

Oak Park took the first of two leads on a three-run double in the top of the second.

Platte County trailed until sophomore center fielder Ben Burnich hit a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the fourth to score Reynolds, courtesy running for sophomore catcher Boston Wasserman after he reached on a dropped third strike. That marked the second time that scenario cost the Northmen in the first four innings.

Again, Oak Park came right back to take a two-run lead in what became an eventful sequence of half innings.

Platte County seemingly took control with four runs in the bottom of the fifth when junior left fielder Matt Cisco led off with a single, and McLaughlin walked. Oak Park did catch Cisco stealing third, but senior designated hitter Ian Gold, who finished 2-for-3, replaced him with a single to put runners on the corner. The Northmen then committed a trio of errors with a strikeout mixed in the string of next four at-bats.

Suddenly with a 7-5 lead, Platte County went to Brown in relief of Dye with a pair of runners on base and gave up a single, but Burnich threw a runner out at home before a pop-up ended the threat. However, an error and a walk led to a pair of runs that set up the walkoff scenario With Fowler, part of a deep rotation of outfielders to provide his biggest hit of the season and his career to this point.

Platte County 20, William Chrisman 5, 3 innings

The Pirates piled up 16 hits and overcame three errors in Wednesday’s Suburban Conference White Division matchup at Platte County High School.

Edsall and McLaughlin both homered, while Gold went 3-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs for Platte County, which scored 10 in the bottom of the first to overcome an early deficit and then literally walked off the win. Wasserman drew a bases-loaded walk to invoke the 15-run rule after three innings.

William Chrisman plated five runs — only two earned — against Platte County junior Evan Magnuson, an all-state pitcher as a sophomore to help the Pirates win their second state title in a span of four seasons. The lone scoreless half inning for either team ended up being the Bears’ top of the third while trailing 16-5.

All 10 of Platte County’s runs in the bottom of the first came with two outs on six singles, four walks and McLaughlin’s three-run shot to left in his second at-bat of the inning. Beckett Hall, a sophomore second baseman, also had a two-run single in his second trip to the plate with the Pirates ultimately batting 14 in the frame.

Fowler led off the second with a double, and Edsall followed with a two-run home run to put Platte County up 12-5. Gold’s RBI single, and Edsall’s bases-loaded walk, his fifth RBI, extended the lead to double digits. The walkoff sequence in the third started with a double for Burnich, and Lumm drove him home with a single ahead of an RBI single for McLaughlin, who finished 3-for-4 with three runs scored and four RBIs.

Hank Marriott followed with a single before a walk for sophomore third baseman Nolan Sipes loaded the bases. Gaven Vest, a junior outfielder, was hit by a pitch hit on a pinch-hitting opportunity to force home the 19th run, and Wasserman walked on five pitches to plate Marriott with the winning tally.

Magnuson struck out three and walked three in 1 2/3 innings, while senior Lucas Dillingham worked 1 1/3 scoreless with three more Ks.

Platte County 4, Park Hill 1

McLaughlin and Brown combined to strike out five and allow only one unearned run in Tuesday’s nonconference win at Platte County High School.

Edsall hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the second to score Gold and Sipes, who both reached on singles, to stake Platte County to the early 3-0 lead. Park Hill’s lone run scored on one of three errors for the Pirates, who answered right back in the bottom of the fourth thanks to Wasserman’s leadoff double. Reynolds, courtesy-running, scored with two outs on a passed ball to push the lead back to three.

McLaughlin went five innings and struck out four while scattering three hits and a walk, and Brown gave up just two hits — both singles — in his two innings.

Platte County 15, Belton 0, 3 innings

In the conference opener, Platte County senior Trent Belcher threw a three-inning complete game Monday at Platte County High School with three strikeouts. He allowed only four baserunners and two came by way of error.

Belton pitchers hit four batters and allowed four walks in just two innings. Platte County took full advantage and needed only eight hits — seven singles — to put up nine in the first and six in the second. Gold went 1-for-3 with a double and drove in three runs, while Reynolds scored three times and added two RBIs in a pinch-hitting opportunity.

Cisco, McLaughlin and Lumm also finished with two RBIs apiece for Platte County. Hall scored twice after being hit by a pitch in both of his plate appearances.

Belcher stranded the bases loaded in the top of the third to prevent Belton from scoring a run and extending the game.