Community R-6 Faces Platte Valley in First State Semifinal Appearance Since 2001

For just the second time in program history, the Community R-6 Trojans are state bound in baseball. The Trojans’ previous appearance was a third place finish in 2001. They reached this year’s Class 1 Final Four with a 9-4 home win over Sacred Heart. Community coach Joel Krato said his team was battle-tested well before that quarterfinal contest.

The Trojans will enter the Class 1 semifinal against Platte Valley with a 19-5 record and riding an eight-game winning streak. The Trojans are led at the plate and on the mound by Gavin Allen and Mason Carroll. Both have ERAs below one coming into the semifinal. Krato says they need to focus on the things they can control at state.

Fifth-ranked Platte Valley will be the Trojan’s opposition in the semifinal round. Platte Valley survived a Green City rally in the quarterfinal round to notch a 5-4 win and book a second straight trip to state. They finished fourth last season in Ozark. Platte Valley coach Zach Dyer said that previous trip should serve them well this year.

Platte Valley enters with a record of 19-2. Twelve of its wins have come by the run rule. Dyer discussed his team’s preparation for the semifinal.

Pregame coverage of the Community versus Platte Valley Class 1 Semifinal will begin at 12:45 on KTCM 97.3 and centralmoinfo.com. Colin Schowe will have the play-by-play.

We will also cover Salisbury’s trip to state in Class 2. Coverage of its semifinal against Chaffee will begin at 3:45 on KTCM. Austin Ward will have the call.