For the first time in nearly a decade, the West Platte baseball team is back on top of its district.
The Blue Jays captured the Class 3 District 8 championship on May 22, their first since 2016 — and they did so in their first season competing at the Class 3 level. Seeded No. 2 in the bracket, West Platte rallied to defeat No. 6 East Buchanan 3-2 in the semifinals before blanking top-seeded Mid Buchanan 2-0 in the title game.
“This feels really good for this ballclub,” West Platte head coach Brian Faulkner said on the West Platte Sports audio broadcast. “I don’t want to take any credit for these guys. This was their decision from Day One. This was how hard they wanted to work for this goal. This is just our first step and hopefully many more wins to finish off the season.”
As has been the case the entire season, West Platte’s pitching and defense carried the Blue Jays through the district tournament. In the victory against Mid Buchanan, West Platte ace Jaxon Turner got the start and delivered a 7-inning shutout, allowing just two hits on 100 pitches.
While Turner performed well, he also had a star-studded defense, which showed its athleticism in the field behind him. The West Platte defense held the district’s highest-scoring offense, which averaged 7.17 runs per game, to no runs for just the second time all season.
“I wouldn’t be anything without them,” Turner said of his defense. “You’ve got to give credit to my defense. They’re amazing. I wouldn’t have anyone else out there behind me.”
The championship breakthrough came in the top of the third. Freshman Dalton Burns sparked the inning with a leadoff single and promptly stole second. Alex Allison stepped to the plate and laid down a bunt, but an error on the throw to first allowed Allison to reach safely and Burns to score from second for the go-ahead run.
Junior Alex Allison scores for West Platte against Mid Buchanan. ANGELA DAVIS PHOTOGRAPHY
Mid Buchanan eventually recorded a couple of outs, but a sacrifice bunt from Cuin Vincent moved Allison over to third base. Blaze Masoner stepped to the plate and delivered with an RBI single to left field, putting West Platte up 2-0 before Mid Buchanan escaped any further damage.
The Blue Jays’ two-run lead was put in jeopardy in the fifth inning when a base hit and a pair of walks loaded the bases with one out. Turner got an infield popup for the second out, then got another infield popup on a 3-2 count to get West Platte out of the jam unscathed.
From then on, West Platte’s defense remained locked in to secure the victory. Junior catcher Jhett Chandler erased a leadoff single in the sixth by throwing out a pinch-runner attempting to steal second base before Turner retired the final five batters to clinch the district title.
“We knew we had to play our best game of the season,” Faulkner said. “We just put the ball in play when we needed to. We kept it together.”
The district championship adds another milestone to what’s shaping up to be one of the best seasons in program history. With the district crown, the Blue Jays surpassed 20 wins for the first time in over a decade.
“These guys just don’t have a quit in them,” Faulkner said. “I’m so proud of them. I’m super emotional right now; I just never thought I’d have the opportunity to do this.”
West Platte now advances to the Class 3 state tournament and will face Lawson in the sectional round on Tuesday, May 27.
West Platte baseball with their first district championship since 2016. ANGELA DAVIS PHOTOGRAPHY