North Nodaway completed a five day stretch covering six games in which it was either feast or famine. They started off in the North Harrison Tournament by beating Winston 15-0. Then, they struggled at the plate and lost 4-3 to Pattonsburg and 4-2 to Princeton to miss out on the third place trophy. A long bus ride seemed to be just what the doctor ordered Monday; they traveled to West Platte and came home happy as they came out on top in a battle of rebuilding squads 13-1. They continued to feast on enemy pitching against Stewartsville, beating the Cardinals 19-17 in eight innings after getting five in the top of the inning and the Cardinals getting three in the bottom of the inning. Thursday, they reverted to famine mode, only getting one run in a 2-1 loss against Albany.
Coach David Carroll said he had nothing to complain about. "We played well all week," he said. "The ball just didn't fall in for us today. We had stellar defense and made some great plays."
The game was the last home game for Breann O'Riley, who was the lone senior on the squad. The well-liked senior will be hard to replace; she got individual hugs from each player and a group hug and received flowers and other memorabilia before the game honoring her four years of dedication to the sport.
Albany scratched out a run in the first inning and made it stand up for a long time. Sarah Poppa, the fleet-footed leadoff hitter, beat out a grounder to shortstop Keagan O'Riley, advanced to second on Lauryn Shoush's bunt, and came home on Maryeah Martin's single to left center field. In the meantime, North Nodaway had runners on, but ran into some double plays as they could not get on the board.
The Mustangs looked like they would get a big inning in the bottom of the first, as O'Riley reached on a dropped third strike. But then Keagan O'Riley tried a fake bunt and slapped it, but Shoush made a shoestring catch and doubled Breann off first to squelch the threat. From there, Albany pitcher Katie Kemper was constantly throwing first pitch strikes, getting ahead in the count, and not giving anyone easy at bats.
Albany looked to add to its lead in the second, but Madison Thompson caught Taylor Bain's smash hit and doubled off Lu Lu Brown. Thompson, who had hit two home runs in a game earlier this year, kept her team in the game with her glove Thursday night as she pulled off an unconventional double play in the fourth. Katie Kemper singled up the middle to lead off, and Madalyn Rainey grounded to Breann O'Riley. She threw to Thompson, who threw to Keagan O'Riley, who tagged out Kemper for the double play. But Albany returned the compliment in the fourth. Thompson singled up the middle, but MaKayla Cross hit a pop fly in front of the plate. Thompson had to hold up in case it was caught; the ball dropped and Albany was able to pull off the 2-3-6 double play.
Bethany Herndon, who struggled at the plate in Eagleville, hit the ball as well as she had all year; she roped one into center field for a hit. Emma Hart struck out, but Kristin Herndon was hit by a pitch. Audrey Trimble, the best bunter on the team, was up next and the ensuing bunt caromed off her into fair territory and everyone was safe. Breann O'Riley hit a long drive to deep right field on the next play. Bethany, thinking the ball was out of the park, didn't tag up; a north breeze was blowing in from right and knocked the ball down for the right fielder to catch it, and nobody could advance. Keagan O'Riley popped out to end the threat.
Sarah Poppa reached second in the sixth when Trimble airmailed a throw to first and Shoush's single to left center field scored Poppa to make it 2-0; she reached second when centerfielder Emma Hart let the ball get by her. Riley Houts singled to Hart in center; Poppa was slow getting over to third, but Hart's throw was not in time to get her and rolled away and Houts took second on the throw to third. But then Bethany Herndon saved a run for North Nodaway at second when she looked back Poppa before throwing to first. Poppa broke for the plate, but first baseman Madison Thompson made a strong throw home and Poppa had to retreat. Albany still had runners on second and third with one out, but Katie Kemper popped out to Breann O'Riley and Madalyn Rainey struck out to end Albany's sixth.
North Nodaway finally got a run back in the bottom of the inning. Madison Thompson hit a shot off Kemper, a pitcher's worst nightmare especially when the hitter is someone of Thompson's caliber; Maddie was safe at first. MaKayla Cross hit a pop fly behind the mound which somehow dropped in. Thompson beat out the force and came home when Bethany Herndon got her second hit, roping one between third and short. But Emma Hart hit a soft line drive to second and Herndon was doubled off to end the inning with the Mustangs still down 2-1. Herndon continued to shine defensively, hustling after a grounder behind first and getting Taylor Bain out in the seventh.
With one out, Audrey Trimble battled with Kemper and drew a walk. Breann O'Riley hit a shot right to second for a hard out, but her attempt to double off Trimble was thrown away and Trimble reached second with two outs. A long single would have tied it, but Keagan O'Riley popped out to end the game.
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