Bryli Seifert’s bombs were enough to set up the next opportunity, and now, the Pirates must find a way to change a years-long postseason narrative.
A 4-1 win over Smithville in a Class 4 District 8 semifinal Saturday at William Chrisman High School in Independence sends Platte County back to the title game for a chance to end Kearney’s recent run of dominance. The two teams have met a total of 11 times since the start of 2021 with Kearney holding a slim 6-5 advantage in those matchups and face off in the postseason for a fifth consecutive season.
This marks the fourth straight Class 4 District 8 championship game between the two teams, but Kearney has won each of the past three. The Bulldogs earned the No. 1 seed this year through a comeback 6-1 victory over Platte County in the final week of the regular season, giving the Pirates the more difficult path to setting up the rematch.
Platte County (19-10) beat third-seeded Smithville for the second time this season with Seifert hitting a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning and adding a solo shot in the third to help the Pirates’ erase an early deficit. Dani Salisbury, a fourth-year senior starter, continued a recent run of strong pitching performances in a resurgence, finishing with two strikeouts and scattering six hits and three walks over seven innings to limit the Warriors to just one early run.
The No. 1 pitcher as a freshman and sophomore, Salisbury sept most of the past two seasons at first base but regularly spelling junior Reagan Ball as a strong secondary option at pitcher.
Smithville (19-13) opened with a single against Salisbury on Saturday and then used a sacrifice bunt and another hit to take an early 1-0 lead. She came back with a strikeout, and senior catcher Gwen Duncan’s throw down to second with the fifth batter at the plate led to an out in a rundown to quickly snuff out the inning.
Platte County then took advantage of an early error with junior left fielder reaching with one out. Seifert then worked a 3-1 count before driving the two-run home run to left field that ended up giving the Pirates the lead for good.
Seifert’s third inning blast to left came on a 2-2 count with two outs and gave the two-time all-state shortstop a team-best six on the season.
Smithville put at least one runner on base in every inning but never scored again. Platte County’s insurance run came in the bottom of the fifth with the Warriors opting to intentionally walk both Seifert and Ball to bring up freshman designated hitter Gracelynn Shippee, who came through with an RBI single to center field.
In the top of the seventh, an error threatened to allow Smithville to bring the potential tying run to the plate, but the final out came on a runner trying to score from second on the misplayed grounder.
Kearney (28-5) enters Tuesday’s championship game as winners of 10 straight, having scored at least six runs in each of those victories. The Bulldogs’ three straight playoff appearances came after Platte County represented District 8 in 2021 on the way to a second straight third-place state finish in Class 4. The Pirates have not been back to the playoffs, and the last two seasons have featured regular season wins over Kearney only to lose the postseason matchup.
Second-seeded Platte County needed just three innings to beat Lincoln Prep (5-10) in Wednesday’s first round matchup at Platte County High School. The seventh-seeded Blue Tigers managed just two hits against Ball, who struck out two and walked one in three innings.
Platte County went into the bottom of the third up 12-0 and then came up with a walkoff run-rule victory when Duncan hit an RBI triple to score sophomore outfielder Brynna Peterson. The Pirates put up 11 runs in the first, and Seifert started the scoring with a three-run home run before sophomore third baseman added an RBI triple.
Up 9-0, Platte County extended the lead to double digits on senior second baseman Marlee Snyder-Richardson’s two-run single. Howren finished 2-for-2 with a walk and added an RBI single in the second.
Platte County 4, North Platte 2
In a rare matchup between former KCI Conference rivals, the Pirates finished off the victory with a dramatic game-ending double play in the top of the seventh Monday at Platte County High School.
North Platte (15-12) trailed by three early but closed within 3-2 in the top of the fifth and remained within two going to the top of the seventh. A single from senior Graci Williams brought the potential tying run to the plate, and sophomore Farrah Williams followed with a double to center field.
However, Platte County junior centerfielder Kelly Bullano hit Seifert with a throw from the fence, and the relay home cut Graci Williams down trying to score from first for the second out. Duncan then alertly threw down to third, and Howren tagged out Farrah Williams trying to move up a base during the play at the plate.
Salisbury earned the win after striking out a season-high nine with no walks, helping offset North Platte’s 10 hits — three each for Graci and Farrah Williams.
Platte County took a 2-0 lead in the third after Salisbury led off with a walk, and senior courtesy runner Evie Thrasher stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Talbot scored her with a sacrifice fly before Seifert and Shippee followed with back-to-back two-out singles. Seifert scored on Shippee’s hit, having moved up to second base on a passed ball.
Bullano increased Platte County’s lead to 3-0 after scoring ton wild pitch in the fourth, and the Pirates went up 4-2 in the sixth on freshman Eva Bane’s RBI single, scoring Snyder-Richardson after her leadoff single.
