After a hard loss at the 2021 district tournament, the Platte Valley Patriots are ready to bounce back this season and achieve their goal of making it to state.

“I think we have a good chance to make state this year, but we just need to take it game by game and pitch by pitch,” sophomore Braxton Wentworth said.

For the team, though, having the opportunity to play in the state tournament isn’t just going to be handed to them. Working with both returning and inexperienced players, the team is ready to put in what it takes to reach their goal. With 5 returning seniors, 12 returning letter winners and 27 players total (8 from Yutan), the coaches and players feel confident with what they have to work with.

“We feel we are talented enough to compete in any game no matter who we play,” head coach Shawn Emanuel said. “Our players feel strongly that we can make a state tournament if we take this season one day and one game at a time.” 

To make sure that these goals can be accomplished, the Patriots know what they need to improve on. Not only will this include physical work on the field but also coming together as a team and developing relationships between each other.

“Some changes that we’re going to have to make is making sure everybody gels as a unit and gets comfortable in their roles, which will be a big adjustment,” senior Hayden Lewis said.

As a team, they knew that putting in both off-and in-season work would be very beneficial to their success in the upcoming season. 

“We expect our practices to be focused and crisp,” Emanuel said. “We play a tough and long schedule this year; I feel strongly that it will better prepare us for the post-season.”

In the end, the Patriots know where they want to be after all of the time and hard work has been put in.

“I plan on being in Lincoln at the Haymarket playing baseball at the end of the season,” sophomore Tyson Lewis said.