One year after the West Platte baseball team had one of its best seasons of the past decade get upended in their district opener, the Blue Jays hope they will play more than just a single postseason game this year.
Posting a record of 15-8 last year, West Platte’s 2024 season concluded in the district semifinal with a defeat to Polo. Under the new leadership of Brian Faulkner in 2025, West Platte had an even stronger regular season with a 17-3 record as of May 10 with hope of postseason success.
This year’s West Platte team has been elite on the defensive side. They win games with their defensive ability to shut out opponents on the mound, allowing just 2.6 runs per game, and flash the leather in the field.
The Blue Jays moved up from Class 2 to Class 3 this year, but they still have optimism of a deep postseason run as the No. 2 overall seed in District 8.
The biggest threat to West Platte baseball’s first district title since 2016 is top-seeded Mid-Buchanan, which defeated the Blue Jays 9-6 in conference play on April 29. The Dragons, ranked No. 8 in the state, capitalized on an uncharacteristic West Platte fielding error, which led to a 5-run fifth inning to put Mid-Buchanan in front.
West Platte’s postseason journey will begin in Lathrop on Tuesday, May 20, in the semifinal round against the winner of Trenton and South Harrison.