Five things to watch at Missouri state softball

Missouri state softball1 Platte County girls now postseason veterans

Seven players in the Platte County starting lineup will be making their third trip to the state semifinals when the Pirates begin Missouri Class 3 tournament play today at Heritage Park Softball Complex in St. Joseph.

After a fourth-place state finish in 2007, Platte County won the program’s first state championship last year. Coach Rob Davenport expects that experience to be an asset.

“Last year we were way, way more relaxed (than in 2007) and won it,” Davenport said. “And you’ve got seven of those kids coming back, so we should know what it’s like to be there.”

2 Speaking of experience

Platte County ace pitcher Haley Pypes and catcher Brianna Corwin are both four-year starters.

Pypes, a fixture on the mound for the Pirates since her freshman year, is 16-6 with a 0.46 ERA and 195 strikeouts in 138 1/3 innings pitched this season. Corwin, meanwhile, is batting .493 in 67 at-bats.

3 Speaking of familiarity

Platte County, 24-7, starts the day with an 11:30 a.m. semifinal game against Cape Girardeau Notre Dame. The teams have clashed at the state tournament each of the last two years.

Two years ago, Notre Dame won in the third-place game. And last year, Platte County won 7-1 when the teams met in the Class 3 state championship game.

“So both of us know each other pretty well,” Davenport said.

4 Pitching and defense for Kearney

The Kearney softball team advanced to the Class 4 state semifinals after three consecutive 1-0 victories — all pitched by Kat Barrow.

“We rely on (the) good pitching that we have and tough defense and the ability to scratch and claw a run or two in, and hopefully that (gives) us enough to come out with a victory,” Kearney coach Paul Lorbert said. “It’s been good for us for 28 of our 30 games.”

The 28-2 Bulldogs will send Barrow back to the mound at 3 p.m. today in St. Joseph to face Oakville in the semifinals. Kearney also boasts another talented pitcher in Addie Paris.

5 Kansas City-area’s lone hopes

Platte County and Kearney are the only two Kansas City-area softball teams still in contention for Missouri state championships. Kearney, which won the 2005 Class 3 state championship, is trying to break through in Class 4.

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