Platte County earned a share of a third straight Suburban Conference White Division championship and carries momentum into the postseason, knowing the initial path that needs navigation to defend last year’s state title.
An 11-0 win in five innings Wednesday over Raytown at Platte County High School officially wrapped up a tied atop the league standings. Platte County essentially knocked Truman out of the race with an 8-0 victory over the Patriots on Monday in Independence. The Pirates share the title with Grain Valley with the teams splitting a doubleheader in late April and finishing with matching 11-3 White Division records.
Platte County (21-12) has won seven of eight in May entering Tuesday’s Class 5 District 8 opener against seventh-seeded East (Kansas City).
Pitching continues to key the recent run with Platte County juniors Evan Magnuson and Brock Dye combining on a five-hit shutout in the key showdown with Truman, which won the first meeting between the two teams this season. The results were especially important for Magnuson, an all-state pitcher as sophomore struggling with control for much of this season.
Magnuson struck out eight and worked around three hits and three walks to earn the win in 5 1/3 effective innings.
Platte County’s offense scored three times in the top of the fifth to break a scoreless tie and then pulled away late. The Pirates received two RBIs apiece from sophomore more second baseman Beckett Hall and seniors Ian Gold and Andrew Edsall.
The top of the fifth started with a walk for sophomore center fielder Ben Burncich, who stole second and scored on a single to left for Hall, who went 2-for-4 with a walk. Gold capped the inning with a two-run double to score Hall and senior shortstop Brennan McLaughlin, who reached with a hit by pitch.
A double play limited the damage.
Magnuson worked around a two-out double in the bottom of the inning and received extra insurance after Hall’s two-out RBI single in the sixth. Dye came on with one out in the sixth with Truman runners on first and a Truman runner on first. The Patriots added another single but stranded two and then went into the bottom of the seventh down 8-0.
Platte County’s final four runs came on consecutive two-out RBI hits for sophomore catcher Boston Wasserman (single), Edsall (two-run double) and junior right fielder Hank Fowler (senior). Dye allowed a single and two walks but left the bases loaded to close out the important win.
Against Raytown at home two nights later, Platte County seniors Owen Bane and Lucas Dillingham combined on a four-hit, five-inning shutout.
McLaughlin went 3-for-3 with two doubles, a triple and three RBIs, while Gold, Edsall and junior left fielder Brandon Reynolds drove in two apiece. The Pirates scored in the bottom half of each of the first three innings, including an eight-run third that put the 10-run rule into play.
Edsall, Reynolds and sophomore third baseman Nolan Sipes all added doubles, while junior outfielder Devin Lumm contributed an RBI triple.
Platte County has allowed just three runs total in the past nine victories with East (12-7) up next in Saturday’s matchup at Creekside Baseball Park in Parkville. The Pirates go into the bracket as the defending champions from the start of a run to the program’s second Class 5 state championship in a span of four years.
With a win, No. 2-seeded Platte County could see No. 3 St. Pius X (19-7) in a semifinal rematch of last year’s title game.
Kearney (23-10) owns the top seed. The semifinals will be Thursday at Creekside with the championship scheduled for 11 a.m. next Saturday, May 23 at the same location.
