The Platte County softball team is reunited for the 2025 season with hopes of competing for its first state championship since 2008.
After missing much of last season while on maternity leave, head coach Callie Peoples is excited to be back for the entirety of the 2025 campaign as the Pirates chase a deep postseason run. She will be joined in the dugout by Lauren Parrish and new assistant coach Lisa Codding.
“Our mentality for this season is to build on previous years and hopefully get past some blocks in past years,” Peoples said. “The past three seasons, we have lost to Kearney in the district championship; we would like to overcome that this year.”
The Pirates are hoping to find a path back to the State Final Four, where they last appeared in 2021 for a third-place finish. Since the introduction of this year’s senior class in 2022, Platte County has not been able to get past Kearney in postseason play, succumbing in three consecutive district championship matchups to the Bulldogs.
To get over that hump this season, Platte County will use some critical experience, led by two-time all-state infielder Bryli Seifert. They also bring back 2024 all-region selections Reagan Ball (pitcher), Gwen Duncan (catcher) and Kinleigh Howren (infielder) alongside four additional varsity starters and some talented newcomers.
“I am excited about the team chemistry,” Peoples said. “We have a great group of girls that are gelling really well already after only the first week of the season. I am excited to continue to build and compete.”
Platte County hopes to improve from the 20-8 record they ended the season with last year. With some returning stars and young additions, the Pirates are shaping up for a promising season.
The first pitch of the Pirates’ campaign will come on Aug. 29 in the Greater Kansas City Tournament, followed by their home game against Liberty North on Sept. 4. Platte County will conclude the regular season against Kearney on Oct. 9, before the district tournament.
“If the season goes as expected, we will be competing for a state title,” Peoples said. “That would mean that all athletes would have confidence, play loose and reach their full potential. We would play as a team and do our jobs and take accountability for our role on the team.”