Nathan Dunn

The Platte County Citizen •

One call away from a Royals homecoming

Jensen, who bats left and throws right, helped the Trojans baseball team jump back above .500 during his time at Park Hill. In his senior year, Jensen led the Trojans to a 21-8 record to earn all-conference honors after batting .387, but the future professional was left off the all-state accolades.Jensen’s rise through the minor league system has been swift but not without challenges. He signed with the Royals in 2021 after they selected him in the third round of the MLB Draft, just weeks after...
The Platte County Citizen •

Field of Dreams ignites imaginations

If anyone knows how to throw a memorable milestone birthday party, it’s Rogers Strickland.The Weston resident transformed a quiet patch of farmland off Countryside Road into a full-blown 1920s-era baseball field for his 75th birthday celebration on July 12. Just like he did for his 50th birthday in 2000, and several years after that, Strickland brought his own version of a “Field of Dreams” to life, complete with vintage charm, community spirit, and a touch of baseball magic.Inspired by childhoo...
The Platte County Citizen •

Shock the State: Platte County crowned State champs in stunning fashion

The Platte County baseball team left all in shock as they won the program’s third Class 5 state championship on June 7 at the 75th annual MSHSAA Baseball Championships at Ozark Mountain Sports Complex.It wasn’t particularly shocking that the Pirates won, but the way they won — against a St. John Vianney team entering with a record of 38-1 and ranked No. 1 in the state — left everyone flabbergasted.Platte County wasn’t just victorious — it was relentless. Down 4-2 heading into the bottom of the f...
The Platte County Citizen •

Double Clutch: McLaughlin's walkoff heroics send Pirates to State

Platte County mounted a comeback from a 3-0 deficit in Game Three, completing the comeback in the sixth inning when Brennan McLaughlin hit a two-RBI double to center field. With opportunities to win it, the Pirates stalled four runners in scoring position in the final two innings to force extra innings.The top of the ninth went bonkers for the Pirates as they conceded two runs, trailing 5-3 as they were down to their final three outs of the season. After a ground out and a fly out in the bottom...
The Platte County Citizen •

Golden Again: North Platte rallies for four-peat State Championship

For the fourth straight year, the North Platte girls track and field team returned home from Jefferson City as state champions — and this one may have been the most thrilling of them all.The Panthers captured their fourth consecutive title at the 50th MSHSAA Girls Track & Field Championships on May 23 and 24, becoming just the seventh girls program in state history to accomplish a four-peat. The championship wasn’t clinched until the very last event of the meet.“The work of this team through the...
The Platte County Citizen •

Statement Made: Park Hill tennis sweeps way to district crown

The Park Hill boys tennis team didn’t just repeat as district champions — they did so in dominant fashion.The top-seeded Trojans swept No. 4 Park Hill South 5-0 in the semifinals on May 6, then repeated that same score against No. 2 Liberty in the Class 3 District 8 championship on May 8.Unlike last season’s dramatic 5-4 win over Liberty as the No. 2 seed, Park Hill controlled this year’s championship from start to finish.The Trojans reshuffled their doubles pairings and still managed to dominat...
The Platte County Citizen •

Park Hill to the Pros: Jaylin Noel selected in 3rd Round of NFL Draft

Jaylin Noel couldn’t hold back his emotions on Friday, April 25, when he picked up the phone and heard Houston Texans executive vice president and general manager Nick Caserio on the line. It was the moment Noel had been anxiously awaiting the news that the Texans were selecting him in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft.“It was surreal,” Noel said. “As a little kid, you dream of that call. Just to hear him say how excited they were to be able to draft me; to be there at that position and that...
The Platte County Citizen •

Shute, MacCuish lead Platte County at Districts

Jaxson Shute and Evan MacCuish are Class 3 District 4 champions for the Platte County boys wrestling team and are among the Pirates’ 10 state qualifiers. Platte County finished third as a team, just as last year with two individual champions, scoring 178 team points in this year’s district wrestling tournament at Belton High School on Feb. 21-22. The Pirates lost out to first-place St. Pius X (Kansas City) and second-place Kearney. Shute made the jump from 106 pounds last year, where he won his...
The Platte County Citizen •

Park Hill South swim to State Title

Park Hill South’s girls swim and dive team are the Missouri Class 2 State champions — again. After claiming the pro- gram’s first state title last year, the Panthers swam in record-breaking time to claim the back-to-back title on Friday, Feb. 21, concluding the two-day championship event at the City of St. Peters Rec- Plex in St. Peters, Mo. “Having that first one makes you believe you can do it again,” Panthers head coach Bill Busen- hart said. “It’s a different type of special. Going back-to-b...
The Platte County Citizen •

Park Hill takes rivalry win for seniors

The Park Hill Trojans boys basketball team led most of the night last Friday, Feb. 21, en route to completing the season sweep of longtime rival Park Hill South with a 70-59 victory.Despite weather causing school closings and low temperatures throughout the week, Park Hill High School was buzzing with two spirited student sections packing the gym for the rivals’ final matchup of the season.“The crowd was amped up for it,” Park Hill head coach Chad Jones said. “Anytime there’s a crowd for a JV ga...
Kansas City Star •

Kansas City Comets lead the way with 4 MASL All-Star selections: Weekly update

The Kansas City Comets celebrated with about 250 road supporters at The Family Arena in St. Charles, Missouri, after clinching the I-70 Series Cup with a 4-3 road victory over the St. Louis Ambush in unconventional fashion on New Year’s Eve. It was important for the Comets to bounce back after losing the previous matchup on home turf. The Comets got going with three goals from Rian Marques. Lesia Thetsane’s second-quarter score made it 4-2, but St. Louis grabbed one back before halftime. The s...
Kansas City Star •

KC Comets can clinch I-70 Cup Saturday at Cable Dahmer Arena. But first, a clinic

After a bye week, the Kansas City Comets are eager to return to action. The Major Arena Soccer League team can clinch some rivalry silverware against the St. Louis Ambush on Saturday at Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence. The Comets already lead the best-of-five season series against the Ambush 2-0; a win Saturday would clinch the I-70 Series Cup for the 2024-25 season. After a promising 3-0-1 start to the year, a week with no games gave coach Stefan Stokic some time to reflect. While he woul...
Kansas City Comets •

Retro Night: Vandegriffe motivated in historic rivalry vs hometown

The Kansas City Comets will celebrate Retro Night on Saturday when they host historical rival St. Louis Ambush at Cable Dahmer Arena. It will be the 164th all-time I-70 Series matchup in the regular season. If there is anyone who knows something about the I-70 Series, it is Comets defender Chad Vandegriffe. The 6-1 St. Louis native has competed in the rivalry at various levels, from youth and high school to college and professional ranks. He now sees the rivalry from Kansas City’s perspective a
Kansas City Comets •

Gibson sets record for most goals in KC indoor history

Leo Gibson has shattered a 22-year-old record for most career goals in the history of Kansas City professional indoor soccer. Gibson now stands at the peak of the all-time scoring charts in the 38th season of Kansas City professional indoor soccer after passing previous record holder Kevin Koetters. Gibson previously tied the old record of 333, which Koetters set in 2002, last week with two goals against Utica City FC. Koetters scored his 333 goals across nine seasons spent in various stints w
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