Platte County baseball's late rally finally backs Horn's shutout effort

Colton Horn struck out 10, leading Platte County to a 5-0 win against Grandview on Monday, April 11 in Grandview, Mo. The Pirates improved to 3-0 in Suburban Conference Blue Division play.

In a complete game effort, Horn allowed only two hits, including a triple, and just one walk. The performance was needed with Platte County unable to score until the seventh inning, putting up all five runs.

Horn and Jared Wilson drove in two each in the five-run inning. Platte County managed just five hits but also drew four walks with Horn leading the way. He went 2-for-4, and no other player had more than one hit.

Platte County improved to 7-5 overall ahead of a nonconference game with Park Hill on Wednesday, April 13 and a Blue Division matchup at Winnetonka on Friday.

West Central Tournament

Platte County split a pair of doubleheaders last week in trips to Sedalia, Mo.

On Wednesday, April 6, the Pirates opened with a 4-2 win against Raymore-Peculiar, and two days later, they closed with a 7-3 win against Ozark. In between came a 10-8 loss to Smith-Cotton and a 7-3 loss to Rock Bridge.

In the opener, Austin Gammill, Dillon Doll and Drew Parmeley provided RBI singles in the firs inning to stake Platte County to a 3-0 lead. Grant Carver earned the win, allowing two runs over 5 1/3 innings despite giving up eight hits and walking two. He struck out three.

Platte County collected 12 hits in the loss to Smith-Cotton, including a pair for shortstop Kodee Martin, helping him drive in four. Justin Mitchell singled to open the first, and Martin immediately drove him in with a single.

Smith-Cotton came back with two runs in the bottom of the first, then put up five in the fifth.
Rock Bridge jumped to a 4-0 lead after two innings in the opener Friday, April 8. Platte County scored twice in the top of the sixth to close within 7-3 on a double from Gammill and a sacrifice fly from Colby Sneed.

Platte County ended the tournament with a win thanks to seven runs in the top of the third against Ozark to take a 7-2 lead. The Tigers took a 2-0 lead against Jared Wilson in the bottom of the first, but he finished allowing three runs on seven hits with nine strikeouts.

Mitchell collected a pair of hits in the third, finishing 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Jerod Thomas added three hits and a run scored.