The Platte County baseball team was one strike away from elimination on May 31 in their quarterfinal series against Webb City. Within a matter of seconds, desperation turned into jubilation as extra-inning heroics sent Platte County dancing their way to the Ozark Mountain Sports Complex for the Class 5 State Semifinal.
Platte County played a pulsating three-game quarterfinal series against Webb City to decide which team would advance. After 27 innings in less than 24 hours, Platte County emerged victorious in walkoff fashion.
Following a devastating 11-inning defeat in Game One on May 30 in Webb City, Platte County bonded over team dinner and delivered the next morning in a must-win scenario to hang on for a 4-3 victory in Game Two. Evan Magnuson earned the victory, setting up Bryce Hall to come in and close the game out.
That set up for Hall to return to the mound to start a dramatic series-deciding Game Three immediately upon the conclusion of Game Two.
“Their Efforts alone are what gave us a chance to not only stay in the game but to eventually win both games,” Platte County coach John Sipes said.
Platte County senior pitcher Evan Magnuson against William Chrisman on May 5.
Platte County mounted a comeback from a 3-0 deficit in Game Three, completing the comeback in the sixth inning when Brennan McLaughlin hit a two-RBI double to center field. With opportunities to win it, the Pirates stalled four runners in scoring position in the final two innings to force extra innings.
The top of the ninth went bonkers for the Pirates as they conceded two runs, trailing 5-3 as they were down to their final three outs of the season. After a ground out and a fly out in the bottom of the ninth, Platte County was desperate for an offensive spark.
They found some life left when the tying run stepped to the plate after a single by Bronson Ryan. Walks from Liam Blacklock and Dayton Doll brought the tying run to scoring position and the winning run to first base.
Next up was McLaughlin, who had already hit a game-tying double to score those two in the sixth inning. After taking strike one, he fouled off strike two. Down to the Pirates’ final strike and still needing two runs, all hopes rested on the bat of the junior third baseman.
On the 0-2 pitch, McLaughlin lifted the ball to deep left field. With the baserunners running on contact, the ball finally dropped down off the fence as two runs scored easily before Doll came bolting down to score the series-clinching run.
“Pure amazement,” Sipes said of his reaction to the game-winning hit. “The only reason I know where the ball went was because of the video someone took of it. I had my head buried into my lap holding on to my late mother’s pendant she gave me praying to her and asking her to help us out. I didn’t watch the last 12-15 pitches.”
McLaughlin soon faced a mob of joyful disbelief at second base to celebrate his second season-saving double of the game as Platte County’s quarterfinal triumph following a 6-5 win in Game Three clinched a spot back in the Final Four for the second time in four years.
Platte County’s attention turns to a State Semifinal clash with Rockwood Summit, set for Friday, May 6 at 1 p.m. in Ozark. The winner advances to Saturday’s championship against the winner of St. John Vianney and Marshfield at 1 p.m., while the loser will play a third-place game Saturday at 10 a.m.
“Super excited and blessed,” Sipes said of the opportunity this weekend. “We know it very easily could’ve been Webb City doing this interview, so we are thankful for the opportunity to represent the school, the community and Pirate Nation for a chance at another State Title for the 24-25 school year!”