Bluejay Softball Can't Handle Platte Valley a Third Time

Northeast Nodaway couldn't handle Platte Valley a third time, falling to them 11-1 in the district finals. This was their first trip to the district finals since 2006. But they will have to wait a little longer to win their first district title since 1990, 32 years ago. That team had players like Shelly Wilmes, Angi Schmitz, and Toni DeFreece on it. They also won districts the year before. They also finished with back to back winning seasons and back to back conference titles.

The Bluejays got the top seed despite going into a hitting slump following their second win over Platte Valley, which simply meant that they had the target on their backs. They had to scratch and claw for their first district win since 2015, a 10-9 nailbiter against Stanberry in a game plagued with errors and miscues on both sides. 

Platte Valley struck first in their half of the first when Maaleah Bliley walked and Sarah Langford hit a perfect drag bunt down the first base line to put runners on first and second. But unlike the Worth County game, when Maggie Collins fouled off 10 straight pitches before crashing a double off the left field wall, she hit it hard, but right at Bluejay center fielder Ruby Wilmes. Brylie Angle picked her up with a single to right to score Bliley. Kali Redden hit a fly ball to Meredith Adwell, but too shallow to score Langford, and Kayley Hauber also flied out to end the inning.

Baylie Busby singled to center in the Bluejay first, and Hadley DeFreece laid down a bunt and reached second on pitcher Delaney Wolf's throwing error as Busby scored all the way from first to tie it at 1-1. But that was it for the Bluejay scoring. When the Platte Valley lineup turned again, all hell broke loose in the third inning and it all went downhill from there. Unlike the second meeting between Northeast and Platte Valley, when Platte Valley hit the ball hard all game but right at people, they found the gaps this time. With one out, they bunched together five straight hits as Maggie Collins singled and went to third on an error, Brylie Angle singled, Kali Redden doubled, Kayley Hauber tripled, and Christina Turpin singled. If the last name sounds familiar, she is a daughter of North Nodaway superintendent Chris Turpin. By the dust had settled, Platte Valley had taken control with a 5-1 lead. It would have been worse had not Meredith Adwell ran down Emalee Langford's drive that looked headed for extra bases. 

As it was, Platte Valley went on to score runs in every inning, while Northeast could not advance a runner past second. Brylie Angle's single scored two runs in the fourth. Maaleah Bliley's double scored another run in the fifth, while Angle's groundout scored a run for Platte Valley in the sixth after Maggie Collins had doubled to lead off and took third on a wild pitch. Collins' seeing eye single in the seventh brought home two more runs. Mylee Wilmes was a bright spot for the Bluejays, beating out two infield hits during that stretch.

Playing in their last game for the Bluejays were Lily Burns, Ruby Wilmes, Lauren McIntyre, Jaden Atkins, and Meredith Adwell.