Plotner to step down at end of baseball season

Republic baseball coach Curt Plotner will step down at the end of this season; he told his players Friday morning. Plotner has been part of the program since 2010, first as an assistant under Howard Quigley and then as head coach beginning in 2018. His record as head coach is 122-109 over eight-plus seasons. In the eight seasons before his hiring, Republic was 72-101.

"It has been an honor to serve as head coach for the past nine years, and I am incredibly proud of what this program has accomplished during that time," Plotner said in a statement. "Those successes are a direct result of the commitment and hard work our players and assistant coaches have poured into the program each day."

Plotner's best season came in 2021, when the Tigers reached the state quarterfinals and lost a 1-0 game to Jefferson City. Republic has earned nine all-state selections under Plotner this decade, along with two Central Ozark Conference championships and a district title.

Athletic Director Trevyor Fisher said Plotner has "made a lasting impact" on the program.

"Under his leadership, the program reached new milestones, including a historic state quarterfinal appearance, two Central Ozark Conference championships and a district title," Fisher said.

Plotner will remain through the end of the season and continue in his teaching role at Republic. Fisher said the search for a new head coach will begin immediately.

The Tigers fell to 7-16 with losses to Webb City and Neosho last week and have dropped six straight games. Seven of their 16 losses have been by two runs or fewer.

Webb City scored six runs in the third inning Tuesday to beat Republic 6-2. The Tigers led 1-0 in the top of the third when Fisher Moore scored on an error in left field. The Cardinals answered by sending 11 batters to the plate, scoring six runs aided by two Republic errors. None of the runs were earned. Kyler Tate took the loss. Gabe Benjamin pitched three scoreless innings in relief. Landon Blankenship had two of Republic's three hits.

Neosho scored six of seven runs with two outs in a 7-5 win Thursday. The Wildcats led 3-0 after the first inning, and Republic rallied to tie it 4-4 in the fifth on RBI singles by Landon Perkins and Greg Hicks. Tevin Beaver's three-run homer with two outs in the sixth put Neosho ahead for good. Brennan Overstreet went five innings and allowed four runs, three earned. Cooper Thomas took the loss in relief.

Republic hosts Lebanon on April 27.