Platte County softball coach Callie Peoples will see some familiar faces across the field when her Pirates host the Webb City Cardinals at 2 p.m. on Saturday in a semifinal contest of the Class 4 state tournament.
“Kathy Harris was one of my coaches and Shauna Friend was my science teacher in high school,” Peoples said on Friday in a phone conversation with SoMo Sports.
Yes, the Cardinals will be squaring off against a team coached by a former Webb City standout.
A member of the Class of 2011, the former Callie Beaver was a stellar four-year performer for Webb City under then head coach Walter Resa and assistant coach Harris.
During her playing days (2007-10), the Cardinals won a state championship when she was a freshman and took third in both her sophomore and senior years.
“I have nothing but fond memories when I look back on my days at Webb City,” Peoples said. “We went to state every year but my junior year. Coach Resa and Coach Harris made me into the player I was all through high school and the player I became in college. They have shaped a lot of my coaching decisions. They were good mentors as I’ve developed my own coaching techniques and strategies. I still look up to both of them very much.”
As a senior right fielder, Peoples earned all-state, all-district and all-conference recognition after hitting .526 with an on-base percentage of .681. The team’s leadoff batter, Peoples scored 41 runs and stole 35 bases as the Cardinals went 31-2 en route to the third place finish at state.
After her prep career, Peoples played collegiately at Park University. She is married to Richie Peoples, another former Webb City Cardinal, and has been teaching and coaching at Platte County since 2015. She took over as the softball program’s head coach in 2018.
Under Peoples’ guidance, Platte County is having a remarkable season. Ranked fourth in Class 4 by the Missouri High School Fastpitch Coaches Association, the Pirates defeated Grain Valley 3-1 on Thursday in the quarterfinals to improve to 21-1.
“This season has been great,” Peoples said. “It seems like it has flown by. We have six seniors and most of them have played on varsity for three or four years. Our seniors have put this team on their backs. They want to win state. Our seniors have got the other girls to rally around them for a common goal.”
A player to watch for Platte County is senior pitcher Emma Koeneke, who struck out 10 and surrendered just five hits in the quarterfinals.
“She is totally in control when she’s in the circle and she doesn’t let a lot of things fluster her,” Peoples said. “She wants the ball in big games and I love her for that.”
Senior shortstop Halle Magee sets the table for the Pirates from the leadoff spot. She has also hit six homers.
“She has had a great year,” Peoples said. “She’s stepped up to a new level this year. She just has a way about her. She gets on-base and makes things happen.”
Sophomore first baseman Takayla Lawson hits cleanup.
“When runners are in scoring position, TK just finds a way to get them in,” Peoples said.
Webb City enters Saturday’s showdown with a record of 26-5 and ranked first in Class 4. Peoples said she’s well aware of what type of team her Pirates will be facing.
“My parents (Alan and Elaine Beaver) still live in Webb City so they’ve kept me up to date on how this year’s team is doing,” Peoples said. “I still talk to Coach Harris once in a while. I know they’re having a great season.”
Peoples noted it will be a memorable day for her when she leads her team against her alma mater, especially with a spot in the state title game on the line.
“I think it’s very special that I get to coach against a great team like Webb City,” Peoples said. “Not very often do you get to coach against someone who was your coach in high school, so I’m just excited to get to see Coach Harris and Coach Friend. It will be special to coach against them. I don’t think it adds any pressure, but it just makes it a little more of a unique situation. We’re excited to play them tomorrow.”
SEMIFINAL NOTES
Platte County has announced that the semifinal contest is closed to the general public. Tickets are being limited to family members of the players. Live audio of the game will be broadcast for free at www.kneo.org. MSHSAA is charging $10 to watch the live video broadcast on KNEO’s website.
Saturday’s other Class 4 semifinal features Webster Groves (14-2) at Rockwood Summit (11-3).
The semifinal winners meet in the championship game on Oct. 30 at Killian Softball Complex in Springfield.
