GUILFORD, Mo. — At some point, most teams find themselves on the receiving end of a thumping at some point any given season. Monday night, it was Platte Valley on the wrong end of an 18-0 result.

But head coach Zach Dyer explained why it’s important to play bigger programs like North Platte.

“We talk about us taking lumps and bruises early because I think that is going to help us in the long run,” Dyer said. “We schedule these big schools early on purposely, so we can get some good competition before play conference opponents.”

The Panthers’ lineup would have been a tough test for any pitcher, and it was no normal start for freshman Grady Gockel, who made his first career start Monday evening.

North Platte was patient from the start, forcing the freshman to throw 14 pitches to the first two batters of the game, both ending in walks. Ben Horsley reached on an infield single to make it 1-0.

Gockel forced a sacrifice fly to left field, but a walk and second infield single put two more on for the Panthers. But the freshman worked through the jam striking out Kersten and then forced a line out to end the inning.

“First start as a high schooler, I thought he did really well and threw a lot of strikes,” Dyer said. “That was just a really good team that hit the ball really well, put the ball in play, and got some bloopers on him. Like I said on Friday, he’s a competitor and he wants to get after it, so he’ll learn from it.”

While the Platte Valley offense failed to score any runs Monday evening, they did have their opportunities with multiple baserunners in three of the four innings.

Freshman Aiden McQueen was the first to reach base with a one-out single in the first. Ezra Morriss then drew a walk to put two on with one out. Dylan Klamm then had a hard-hit ball to left field caught for the second out, then a strikeout left the two runners stranded.

Platte Valley stranded seven total in the loss on two hits and five walks.

“We pressured them and we had some good at-bats,” Dyer said. “But again, we have a young team and over half our starters are freshmen and sophomores—so there’s just not a lot of experience.”

The Panthers scored 16 runs over the final three innings, giving them their second win of the season. Platte Valley falls to 1-1 with another test against a bigger school tomorrow in Gilford.

Platte Valley hosts the East Buchanan Bulldogs who enter the game 0-2. The game provides an opportunity for the lineup to get back on track against an East Buchanan pitching staff that has allowed 29 runs in two games.

“The message is to weather the storm — like I said, it’s going to help is in the long run,” Dyer said.