The Platte Valley softball team, in a game pushed back 24 hours and then moved due to rain and field conditions, knocked off the Princeton Lady Tigers by a score of 8-6 on Thursday night, in the Class 1 sectionals at Lathrop High School.
Princeton struggled defensively throughout the contest, with those miscues providing opportunity for Platte Valley to grab an early 5-0 lead. However, in a consistent theme in the game, Platte Valley had a leaky defensive effort, with five unearned runs by the Lady Tigers over the third and fourth innings allowing the GRC squad to tie the game at 5-5.
In the top of the fifth inning, freshman Maggie Collins ignited a Platte Valley surge with a one-out double. Following a walk and a Collins swipe of third base, an RBI single gave Platte Valley the lead for good.
Princeton threatened in the bottom of the fifth, but two running catches by Platte Valley right-fielder Kayley Hauber squashed the potential Tiger uprising. A Sydnee Dean RBI double in the top of the sixth inning plated a run to push the lead to 7-5. Princeton sophomore Carsey Brown had a one-out solo homer in the bottom of the sixth to cut the lead in half, but PV added another insurance run in the 7th, with a Pappert single scoring Collins. The Lady Tigers went down scoreless in the home 7th.
Princeton returns most of its team for what could be a standout 2021 campaign, losing three seniors to graduation, including sisters Jasmine and Alison Allen. Platte Valley, after beating Princeton in the sectional round for the second year in a row, went on to run-rule Stewartsville-Osborn in Saturday’s quarterfinal, sending the Eagles into the Class 1 state semifinals.
