Four consecutive district championship losses had stood between Platte County’s softball team and a return to the top. On Oct. 19, the Pirates finally cleared that hurdle.
Reagan Ball greets Kelly Bullano after Bullano’s third-inning home run against Smithville.
Behind a pair of home runs from senior Kelly Bullano and a composed performance in the circle from Reagan Ball, top-seeded Platte County defeated No. 3 Smithville 5-3 to capture its first district championship since 2021. The victory ended a frustrating stretch of four straight losses in district finals and sent the Pirates into the Class 4 State Tournament for the first time in five years.
Platte County’s path to the championship was not without its challenges. The Pirates opened district play with a 14-0 victory over bottom-seeded Lincoln Prep on Oct. 14 before edging No. 4 Benton 2-1 on Oct. 17, and overcame an early deficit against Smithville to finish the job.
“The girls have fought hard all season,” Platte County head coach Callie Peoples said. “We’ve been working towards this, so it’s really nice to see it come to fruition. Just to meet one of their goals along the way.”
Bullano, the Pirates’ No. 9 hitter, proved to be the difference-maker in the championship game. The senior center fielder delivered two home runs at the plate and made several crucial plays in the outfield to help Platte County secure the long-awaited title.
“It feels great,” Bullano said. “It feels good to do it for the coaches, too, just because they’ve been on the losing side for a while. It’s great to flip the switch.”
The Pirates had already experienced a tense finish in the semifinal against Benton. Ball kept the opposition scoreless through six innings before Platte County finally broke the deadlock. Ball and Caroline Reynolds delivered consecutive RBI singles to put the Pirates ahead, and the defense held on through a nervy finish to preserve the 2-1 victory.
The district championship presented another challenge. Platte County fell behind Smithville 2-0 in the first inning but limited the damage with a double play, as Bryli Seifert turned a ball to Kinleigh Howren to escape the inning.
Reagan Ball gave up three earned runs in 17 innings through Platte’s County’s run in districts.
Ball settled in from there, finishing with six strikeouts and two earned runs allowed. She also contributed at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a home run.
Her ability to remain composed in difficult situations has become a defining characteristic of the senior pitcher. Those characteristics were vital in a district championship where Platte County pitched against the momentum in Smithville, with fans of both teams lining the outfield fence.
“Reagan’s our go-to,” Peoples said. “She’s composed, she’s disciplined, and she doesn’t get riled up in big moments like that. She pitched her game, she didn’t start pitching something different or do anything different whenever she didn’t get some of the calls that she wanted. Whenever they got some hits, she stayed on her game and kept just pounding at it.”
Platte County’s offense struggled to find its rhythm early, stranding a runner at third base in the second inning. Bullano changed the momentum in the third, launching a solo home run over the right-field fence to cut the deficit to 2-1.
The Pirates broke through in a big way an inning later.
Reagan Ball rounds third after hitting a solo home run to tie the game in the fourth inning.
Ball opened the four-run fourth inning with a home run to center field, tying the game at 2-2. Eva Bane then scored the go-ahead run on a Brynna Peterson RBI single before Bullano stepped to the plate again and delivered a two-run homer, sending another shot over the right-field fence to give Platte County a 5-2 advantage.
Smithville answered with a run in the sixth, but Ball stranded a runner in scoring position with a strikeout to end the inning and preserve the Pirates’ two-run lead.
Bullano still had more work to do in the field.
Smithville appeared to have extra bases waiting on a ball hit to center field to open the seventh inning, but Bullano tracked it down and made an over-the-shoulder catch for a critical first out.
Senior center fielder Kelly Bullano drew enthusiastic reactions from student supporters behind her after making a play for the first out of the seventh inning.
The highlight-reel play kept the bases clear and brought Platte County one step closer to the championship.
“It felt really great,” Bullano said. “I was kind of scared, but I got that catch and it felt amazing.”
Ball fielded a ground ball for the second out before Seifert secured the final out on a line drive, officially ending Platte County’s district championship drought.
Platte County celebrates after beating Smithville for the district championship on Oct. 19.
For Bullano, the moment carried extra significance with her high school career nearing its end.
“This means a lot,” Bullano said. “Especially since it’s my senior year. This is definitely one of my favorite teams. It was a team win.”
Bullano also credited her father for helping her prepare at the plate in the lead-up to the championship game, saying she felt strong after hitting with him. It was a timely performance the Pirates needed to find a spark.
“That was insane,” Peoples said of Bullano’s performance. “We needed somebody to step up and kind of get us started, and she did it, and then she didn’t stop. She made some unbelievable defensive plays, too. Anytime the ball is hit to her in the outfield, I can breathe because I know she’s going to go all out for it no matter what.”
The championship sends Platte County into postseason play with a 10-game winning streak and a chance to keep building on its momentum. For the players, advancing to the state quarterfinals represents an opportunity they have not experienced together.
“This team’s first goal was to win districts, so check: they got that one done,” Peoples said. “Their next goal is to make it to State, so we’ll work on that next week. Once we get to State, we don’t plan to stop.”
Platte County will host Belton at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, in the Class 4 quarterfinals. The teams split their regular-season meetings, with Belton winning 15-14 in nine innings on Sept. 17 before the Pirates answered with a 12-2 run-rule victory on Oct. 5.
“We’ve got to keep fighting, keep winning and we’ll get there,” Bullano said.
