Young Tigers exceed expectations after ‘22 run to state

It was only natural to think the Plattsburg baseball team would need a rebuilding year in 2023. After all, the Tigers were coming off the most successful year in program history – 29 victories, a thirdplace finish in Missouri Class 2, and a slew of championships and accolades – and the team would need to replace nearly its entire pitching staff.

But, with a key group of seniors and some budding young talent, Plattsburg opted to reload. Ultimately, the Tigers won their second-straight Class 2, District 15 championship with a final record of 21-13, adding their own legacy to Plattsburg’s decorated history.

“We had a great group of young men that were determined to win districts again,” said Plattsburg head coach Beau Brown. “Most of the team put in a lot of hours in the offseason so they could win another district title. Half of the varsity players got at least some varsity time last year, so they were able to be a part of it, but everyone was a part of last year’s practices, so they were able to see how to go about things in the right way.”

At their foundation, the Tigers were bolstered by four senior leaders – Jackson Lewis, Wyatt Moran, Luke Schroeder and Zak Kittelson – who not only produced on the field, but helped a relatively young team find its way at the varsity level.

“Obviously, when having two First Team All-State seniors (Lewis and Moran), you know they were leaders on the field,” Brown said. “All four seniors helped the younger players learn the game and would always push them to give their best effort, no matter the situation of the game.”

However, coming into this spring, the Tigers had one major hole in their arsenal – pitching.

Last year, the Tigers were headed up by Brock Steggall, Kayden Carter, Nathan Bash and other seniors who could command the mound, giving Plattsburg a defined edge. To shoulder that weight, Plattsburg found a trio of young arms in freshman Keegan Gudde, sophomore Hunter Risch and junior Gavin Carter.

“We knew coming into this year that we had to replace five senior pitchers who combined to throw over 200 innings from the previous season,” Brown said.

“Hunter Risch, Gavin Carter, and Keegan Gudde each took it upon themselves to become good pitchers and replace what we had from the year before. And crazily, our pitching staff actually performed about the same as the year prior.

I’m very excited to see how our pitching staff improves over the offseason, as we will return over 180 innings pitched from this year.”

Plattsburg also benefitted from the ascension of Braden Brown at first base, who contributed in the field but was especially lethal at the plate, where he joined Lewis and Moran to form the heart of the line-up. Along with the contributions of Jayden Houser, Rylan Langton and others, Plattsburg won eight of their last 11 games on their way to the district title.

And they nearly forged on farther.

In the state sectionals against Maysville, Plattsburg fell behind 9-4 early. Despite the hole, the Tigers fought back, scoring six runs in the final innings and almost pulling off the comeback, falling just 12-11. It was that tenacity that defined the team throughout 2023.

“One thing that we always preach to our guys is that no matter what the score is, no matter who we are playing, no matter what the situation is, you always give your best effort and you play for the brothers next to you in the dugout,” Brown said. “We lost a lot of close games early in the season, but figured out how to win them as the year went on. I believe it is a product of the work ethic that we put in from the offseason and throughout the season. The guys didn’t want to lose any games and always gave their best effort. Being mentally tough is a key to this game; without it, you will never be better than average.”

The baseball program at Plattsburg continues to build on its own legacy, and with so many returning starters and pitchers returning in 2024, the Tigers could keep the banners coming in the future.