Worth County dropped two games at the Albany Tournament Saturday, but claimed the 5th place trophy after picking up a forfeit win against Princeton after the latter team decided not to show up for their 3:00 game following their 6-5 loss to Albany, a team that had only won two games last year. The Tiger players and fans wound up waiting three hours for a game that never happened as their last game ended at 12:00 and their 5th place game had been scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
If anyone had a right to claim that they were shafted, it was Worth County, who was put in the same bracket with two powerhouse teams in Gallatin and North Harrison. The Tigers went down to Gallatin 13-2 in their first game after they had led 2-1 after two innings of play. That was quite a comedown for the Tigers offensively after they had hung 41 runs on North Nodaway and 15 on North Andrew. The Tigers and Bulldogs have played several extra inning games in recent years, but Worth County struggled against the always tough Gallatin squad. Then, they had to face a North Harrison squad which had beaten them 10-0 in districts and which had launched one shot after another over the short Stanberry fence. This time, they made a game of it after being on the ropes early before they fell to the Shamrocks 8-5. "The scoreboard didn't show it, but I was proud of the way the girls played Saturday," said assistant coach Amy Jackson, helping with the team again after a two-year hiatus. Freshman Casey Smyser made her first-ever start for the Tigers; she pitched strongly for the first two innings, got in a lot of trouble in the middle innings, but then got stronger as the day wore on to keep Worth County in the game and give them a chance to win.
The Shamrocks seem to find power pitchers year in and year out, and this year was no exception. They also featured Morgan Hallock, one of the top catchers and hitters in the area; her arm preserved a subsequent 5-4 upset of Gallatin as she threw out two runners at second in the late innings to preserve the win. Hallock led off for the Shamrocks against Worth County and she took advantage of a fielding lapse to go to second as centerfielder Brooke Adams' throw was wild and rolled all the way to the first base fence as Hallock took second. She advanced to third on a bunt and scored on a wild pitch to score North Harrison's first run of the day.
But Worth County came right back thanks to some fielding lapses by the Shamrocks. Brooke Adams reached first on a dropped fly ball by the right fielder and Ashley Reynolds walked. Brooke Adams then took third on a delayed steal and then Ashley Reynolds took second as the throw went to third in an unsuccessful attempt to retire Adams. Amanda Downing then grounded out to score Adams and Delaney Davidson beat out an infield single as the shortstop knocked down a sharp grounder but didn't have a play.
North Harrison could not get anything going in the second as Tiger catcher Rebecca Moore picked a runner off of first, but they erupted for six in the top of the third. Smyser struggled to start off the third as she walked three batters and Brooke Gilland dropped a force throw to third base as she was covering on a bunt. That let in one run and two more scored on wild pitches. A sacrifice bunt scored another; Gilland threw a grounder into the first base dugout to let in another, and a single accounted for North Harrison's sixth run of the inning. That made it 7-2 and it looked like the Gallatin game all over again.
But Worth County answered North Harrison's outburst with one of their own. Brooke Gilland beat out a grounder to short and Ashley Reynolds reached on an error as the centerfielder misjudged a fly ball and it dropped behind her for a two-base error. Gilland scored on a wild pitch and Amanda Downing singled between third and short to plate Adams and make it 7-4. Delaney Davidson singled past a diving shortstop to put her on first and Downing on second with one out. But a bizarre double play that was made in conflict with the rules killed Worth County's momentum. Tonya Troutwine hit a pop fly that dropped in and, assuming there was no call, the Shamrocks threw to third to force Downing out. Downing went into the dugout thinking she was out and then the plate umpire called it an infield fly, meaning that Troutwine was out as well. The decision was made in conflict with the rules since the infield fly had taken away the force play at third.
Smyser pitched into some more trouble in the fourth as she walked three batters and hit another and let in Hallock with yet another wild pitch. That made it 8-4, but the Tigers got out of the inning when Gilland alertly threw to third for a force play for the third out. Worth County got another run with a two out rally as Smyser and Adams singled to center and Brooke Gilland drove Smyser in with a single down the left field line to make it 8-5.
North Harrison could not score in the fifth as Moore threw her second runner out stealing for the game. But Worth County couldn't take advantage in their half; Delaney Davidson walked with one out and Bailey McPike singled with two outs. But Moore grounded out to end the threat. Smyser got stronger as the game progressed as she struck out the side in the top of the sixth. But the Tigers went down in order in their half of the sixth as well.
The Shamrocks tried to get some insurance runs in the top of the seventh, as they got runners on second and third with two outs and Morgan Hallock coming to the plate. But Smyser struck out Hallock for the third out of the inning and Worth County was still in the game. Ashley Reynolds hit a pop fly single that dropped in as the Shamrocks were playing her deep to lead off the seventh. Amanda Downing forced her at second but back to back Shamrock errors loaded the bases with one out. But Paige McPike grounded into a force at home and Moore grounded out to the pitcher to end the game.
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