GUILFORD, Mo. — Other than second baseman Emalee Langford, no player for Platte Valley started in the same position that they did last season, but the young roster grew up fast in the season opener with a 6-0 win over Stanberry.

“I think that win builds a lot of confidence,” Platte Valley sophomore Ezra Morriss said. “We have a lot of younger guys on our team.”

Platte Valley had the opportunity for a blowout early on, but went through adversity with six runners stranded in scoring position through four innings and just a 1-0 run with sophomore Koleby Staples scoring the first run of the season.

But while the offense went through its growing pains, the pitching was terrific. Ezra Morriss was the only pitcher returning with more than an inning of experience. Morriss only had 13 innings last season and no starts.

Coach Zach Dyer gave the sophomore the ball on opening day and Morriss wasn’t fazed. He gave up a single to the second batter he faced, but settled in with a double play then three hitless innings.

“Lots of strikes,” Dyer said. “He threw the ball really well. He has such great natural movement on his pitches which helps a lot.”

Morriss had nine strikeouts in his four 1-hit innings with one walk. The only ball hit in play after the first was a line-out back to himself.

“There were a little bit of nerves,” Morriss said. “I just tried to come in and play calm and keep my cool. … Just keep doing my thing and throw strikes.”

The offense for Platte Valley added a run in the fifth with an RBI grounder from Dylan Klamm.

Morriss pitched four innings and gave way to freshman Grady Gockel who also hit leadoff and started at shortstop in his first varsity game. Gockel worked around a 1-out walk and single in the fifth inning then turned in a 1-2-3 sixth inning.

“Ezra had a really good game and I just wanted to come in and throw strikes,” Gockel said.

Platte Valley put the game away in the sixth as back-to-back-to-back hits from Morriss, Klamm and Langford pushed the lead to 6-0. While the top of the lineup was two freshmen, the middle went sophomore, junior and senior with Morriss, Klamm and Langford as the team’s three most experienced players.

“They’ve been huge early in the season, helping out their young teammates,” Dyer said. “Mason, Grady, Aiden are all newcomers and Koleby, Leo too.”

Gockel struck out the side in the seventh to put a bow on the win. He finished with three innings, one hit allowed, one walk and six strikeouts.

“Lots of expectations, but he is a player who doesn’t back away from that,” Dyer said. “You saw that in football and basketball, and now in baseball.”

Emalee Langford and Mason Holaday each had two hits while six Platte Valley players picked up a hit.

Platte Valley will host a couple larger schools on Monday and Tuesday with North Platte and East Buchanan visiting Guilford.

“It was amazing,” Gockel said. “… That first win is going to give us a lot of confidence going into our next game.”