Platte County likely expected some ramp up time to put existing pieces in new, more prominent places, but an already busy start to the season takes on a little more urgency after an 0-3 start in the Metro Leadoff Classic. The Pirates created a grueling schedule coming off of the 2022 Class 5 state championship and even with key starters and a deep, experienced class, the Pirates are still building identity.
Platte County senior Hunter Canole delivers a pitch during a Metro Leadoff Classic game against Liberty on Monday at Creekside Baseball Complex in Parkville.
Originally slated for four games over in a span of four days at Creekside Baseball Complex, Platte County only ended up playing three with Tuesday’s finale against Raymore-Peculiar canceled due to cold and rainy conditions. A scheduled Saturday doubleheader went to Monday, as well, due to inclement weather. The Pirates ended up allowing double-digit runs in Friday’s season-opening loss to Blue Springs and a run-rule loss to Lee’s Summit West that ended up closing the competition on Monday.
Platte County led at least once in all three games.
Against Blue Springs, Platte County junior center fielder Devin Wassmann’s two-run double gave the Pirates an early 2-0 lead, and they later went up 5-3 when senior catcher Cameron Dean’s two-out RBI single capped a three-run third. However, the Wildcats responded with a nine-run fourth on the way to a 13-8 victory in six innings due to time limits.
Platte County limited pitch totals and used junior and expected left-handed ace Brayden Carter as the starter. He walked three and allowed three hits but worked out of trouble in two scoreless innings. The Pirates then used seniors Ethan Veach, Aidan Norris and junior Drew Boyer for the next 3 2/3 innings of relief, combining to allow 13 runs — 12 earned — nine hits and six walks. Dayton Doll, a sophomore second-year starter at second base, ended up recording the final out of the top of the seventh after walking two.
Each team walked 11.
Wassmann finished 1-for-2 with two walks and three RBIs, while Dean and Doll were both 2-for-4 for Platte County. Doll doubled with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. The Pirates 11 walks came from seven different players, including two each for senior right fielder Dayne Wimberly, senior shortstop Nick Baker and junior third baseman Brian Chandler.
Platte County sophomore second baseman Dayton Doll flips the ball toward second base during a Metro Leadoff Classic game against Liberty on Monday at Creekside Baseball Complex in Parkville.
The first game of Monday’s doubleheader went better from a pitching standpoint, and Platte County again held multiple leads.
Wimberly led off the top of the first with a double and scored on senior first baseman Dylan Robertson’s two-out single to make it 1-0. After Liberty tied the score in the bottom half of the inning with an unearned run against Carter, the Pirates extended the lead to 3-1 with single tallies in both the second and third — a double for Doll that led to him scoring with two outs and Robertson’s RBI groundout to bring home Baker after his leadoff single.
Liberty came back with a three-run third against Carter, who went 4 2/3 innings while allowing seven hits and striking out one. Neither team scored again with Platte County senior Hunter Canole throwing 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief with two walks and two strikeouts. The Pirates couldn’t come up with the tying run despite a leadoff triple for Wimberly in the fifth, a one-out single for Dean in the sixth and junior reserve Zane Miller being hit by a pitch to start the seventh.
Platte County also had seven hits with senior designated hitter Jordan Hedrick having the fourth extra-base hit — a double.
Platte County junior center fielder Devin Wassmann swings at a pitch during a Metro Leadoff Classic game against Liberty on Monday at Creekside Baseball Complex in Parkville.
In the second game of the doubleheader, Lee’s Summit West ended up with a 16-6 walkoff victory in five innings, scoring multiple runs in each of the last four innings (five, six, two and three) and against three pitchers — Robertson as the starter, senior Dylan Zimmerman and Boyer.
Wimberly went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored, while Wassmann doubled and walked twice and scoring twice. Dean also continued his fast start with a single, a walk and two RBIs, but Platte County couldn’t make a 4-0 lead standup.
Lee’s Summit West committed two errors in the first inning but only went behind on Dean’s two-run, two-out single before Doll and senior first baseman James Schwieder drew back to-back walks to force in the third run and make it 3-0. Robertson’s sacrifice fly to score Baker, who reached with a one-out single, in the second made it 4-0.
The lead evaporated in the bottom of the second when Lee’s Summit West tallied five runs against Robertson, who walked five and allowed four hits while striking out three in 2 1/3 innings. The Titans chased him in the third and eventually put up seven runs on Zimmerman in his first appearance of the season, although four were unearned due to a pair of Pirates’ errors.
Platte County couldn’t generate a comeback with only five hits, although Wimberly led off the fourth with a solo home run to center. Doll added a bases-loaded walk to briefly cut Lee’s Summit West’s lead to 11-6.
After the slow start, Platte County travels to Stillwater, Oklahoma, for more showcase games, starting with Friday’s doubleheader against the host Stillwater and then an evening tilt with Carl Albert. The Pirates will play Stillwater again on Saturday before returning home for Monday’s road rivalry game at Smithville.
