North Harrison survived a bad inning against Milan Thursday, before heading off to the North Central Missouri College Tournament in Trenton Saturday. There, they faced some brutal competition as they dropped a 6-0 loss to Marceline, undefeated in Class 2 up to that point. Milan, a streaky team playing in the GRC, did not show up to play in the rematch between the two teams and North Harrison won handily 12-0. Then, they dropped a 10-1 decision to once-beaten Plattsburg before rain and lightning forced the cancellation of the tournament, won by powerhouse Trenton.
Things didn’t get any easier for North Harrison when they returned home Monday to face Albany, the runner-up of the North Andrew Tournament. Many of their players play with each other over the summer and they know each other well, taking away the intimidation factor that many teams have going into games with the Shamrocks. But Coach Brandon Craig sent out freshman Carli Rinehart, who had already beaten the Warriors once this year in Albany. She did so again Monday, shutting them down in a 4-1 victory.
Albany skipper Hannah Beverlin sent out Riley Houts to slow down the Shamrocks. She had a fastball, a change, and an unorthodox pitch that looks like it’s too high, then drops in at the last minute for a strike. That kept North Harrison’s batters off balance some, but not enough to keep them from getting the badly-needed win.
Payton Craig battled Houts and got a walk on a 3-2 pitch; Brandi Rivet got down a perfect bunt as she flew around to third base and was safe on a close play despite plenty of squawking from the Albany side. Audrey Briggs grounded out to score her to make it 1-0.
Ashlynn Gilpatrick doubled to lead off the second over rightfielder Madalyn Rainey’s head. Kami Gibson singled and the ball went under the left fielder’s legs to score Gilpatrick. Carly Rinehart’s shot to left scored Gibson, and Rainey Fordyce’s grounder advanced her to second. Payton Craig beat out an infield hit as Rinehart came all the way home from second to score to make it 4-0.
That was it for North Harrison, as similar to North Nodaway at North Andrew, they were putting it in play, but right at people. But those were all the runs they would need.
Albany got its lone tally in the fifth as Riley Houts singled with one out and took second on a wild pitch. Amber Davis struck out, but Taylor Bain walked and Abbey Wilson singled just over shortstop Payton Craig’s head to score Houts. The tying run was at the plate, but Lauryn Shoush popped up to Gibson. There was no nailbiter like Hamilton, as Rinehart struck out the side in the seventh.
For Coach Brandon Craig, it was a good day’s work against a good team. But the players were harder on themselves. Several of them were in the batting cages behind the dugout during the JV game, taking extra practice swings to get themselves better before the next few games.
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