The KCI Conference honored eight local baseball players as all-conference performers for the 2026 season.
Matthew Cook of West Platte delivers a pitch.
Starting on the pitcher’s mound, West Platte senior ace Matthew Cook joined North Platte junior Ben Horsley in earning two of the five all-conference first team pitching spots.
West Platte also had sophomore shortstop Reed Elms earn all-conference first team honors after a standout debut campaign as a Blue Jay. In the outfield, juniors Blaze Masoner and Cuin Vincent showed their ability to track down balls at an elite level, rounding out first team selections.
Hunter Palmer of North Platte takes off his elbow guard after reaching base safely.
For North Platte, the right side of their infield dominated the competition as senior first baseman Hunter Palmer and junior second baseman Lane Richardson earned all-district first team. Junior outfielder Kaysen Iske was also an all-district first team selection.
Both schools finished top-three in the conference standings, with West Platte narrowly losing out on a conference title after concluding the season 6-1. The Blue Jays’ only conference defeat came to Mid-Buchanan, which won the conference title with a 7-0 record and later beat West Platte for the district championship as well.
North Platte finished third in the conference with a 4-3 record. They also advanced to the district finals, where they lost to eventual Class 2 champion Faith Christian Academy.