Plattsmouth makes history in win over Platte Valley

PLATTSMOUTH, Neb. - Plattsmouth put together its most complete game of the season, dominating Class B No. 7 Platte Valley in all facets of the game, in a 7-0 victory. Thursdays win at Blue Devil Park set the school record for wins in a season (15) and was the Blue Devil's seventh win in a row. 

The Blue Devils (15-3) limited the drama, jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the third and scored another in the fifth and two in the sixth. Starter Gabe Villamonte tossed a complete game shutout and limited a strong Platte Valley lineup to just three hits. 

The Patriots made solid contact on a few pitches, but each time there was a Plattsmouth fielder there to make the play.

"(Villamonte) really kind of pitched to contact," head coach Jim Olsen said. "(Platte Valley) hit some balls hard, but our defense really helped us tonight.

"Gabe made them put the ball in play."

Villamonte was nearly flawless with the only asterisk on his performance being two hit batters. But after the second hit-by-pitch that came in the fourth, Villamonte sat down the final 10 batters to finish the ball game. 

When the ball was put in play against the Plattsmouth right-hander, he said he was confident his defense would be there to make the play. Villamonte added that all of his pitches felt good and that he really relied on his curveball late in the game. 

"I think I really had good control tonight," Villamonte said.

The Blue Devils scored the first four runs of the game by sending nine hitters to the plate. Four Blue Devils recorded a hit in the frame. Plattsmouth had a base runner reach in every inning, which put pressure on the Platte Valley pitching and defense. 

"We had guys on base most of the night," Olsen said. "I think we did a good job of getting guys over. We were very aggressive on the bases and if we're doing that we have a chance."

One of those aggressive scenarios came in the big third inning when Gage Olsen and Drew Iverson each scored on a wild pitch. Olsen came around first as the ball bounced toward the first base dugout. The throw to the plate got away from Patriots pitcher Emerick Hegwood and Iverson read it beautifully to score all the way from second.

It's the brand of baseball Plattsmouth wants to play and has built its program around during the Jim Olsen era. The high baseball IQ, the aggressiveness on the bases and execution on the mound have all lead to this historic season.

"Our mentality is 'be aggressive and if you mess up, you mess up'," Olsen said. "But more often than not it works out."

It worked against the Patriots (13-7) Thursday in one of the Blue Devils best overall performances of the season. Leading 5-0 in the sixth, Henry Lootnjer started off the inning with a single. Ethan Walker sacrificed him over to second before Gage Olsen walked for the third time. 

Olsen then stole second when Iverson was intentionally walked. With the bases loaded, Eli Horner and Villamonte each delivered RBI singles to put the game out of reach at 7-0. Horner went 3-for-4 at the plate with an RBI while Villamonte and Walker each went 2-for-3 with run-scoring base hits in the Blue Devils seventh consecutive win. 

The home half of the sixth inning was yet another example of Plattsmouth baseball. The relentlessness on the bases. The execution at the plate. It's all part of the Blue Devil's winning formula.

"Overall, team speed and team aggressiveness is a big part of our game," Olsen said. 

Box Score:

Platte Valley (13-7): 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 - 0, 3, 1

Plattsmouth (15-3): 0, 0, 4, 0, 1, 2 - 7, 11, 0