North Harrison had been to sectionals each of the last three years. Each time, Stanberry or Jefferson was there barring the door. But finally, North Harrison broke the barrier Wednesday night and took down Jefferson 3-2 to advance to the Elite Eight.
Last year, North Harrison had gotten past Princeton and Worth County, erasing a 2-0 deficit in the fifth inning in the district title game to move on, only to fall to Platte Valley 6-1. Two years ago, they beat Stanberry 12-6 in the regular season, only to fall to them 3-2 in nine innings. Three years ago, they beat Jefferson 9-7 in the regular season only to fall 3-0 in sectionals. But Coach Brandon Craig gave his seniors, Payton Craig, Brandi Rivet, and Audry Briggs, all the credit for North Harrison’s strong postseason this year. “They’re getting more and more focused as we get into the post-season,” he said. Coach Craig talked about his team’s youth at the start of the season, but the younger players have bought in and stepped up.
It was a full house at North Harrison, with many former players from teams over the last 25 years there to cheer them on. Dava Nelson, who had pitched North Harrison to the state tournament twice in 1992 and 1993 and whose team won the 1993 state title, couldn’t resist staying away from the dugout after all this time.
The Shamrocks got their first run in the third when Payton Craig led off the inning with a single to center. Platte Valley catcher Josie Deen had made a living off picking off enemy runners, but threw one away, allowing Craig to go to second. Brandi Rivet laid down a bunt that rolled down the first base line and stayed fair, putting runners on first and third. Ashlyn Gilpatrick hit a fly ball into the right field corner that was clearly foul. But the Platte Valley right fielder, instead of letting it drop, caught it. On a foul ball, no runners can advance; however, on a catch, runners can tag up and advance whether it’s fair or foul. Payton Craig alertly tagged up and scored.
It looked like it would be the only run North Harrison would need at first. Payton Craig retired the first 11 Eagle batters, striking out four in the first three innings. Josie Deen finally walked in the fourth inning with two outs after getting to 3-2 and fouling off four pitches. Kaylin LaMaster, who had hit a home run off Craig in the earlier game between the two teams, was up, but she grounded out to Gilpatrick for the final out.
Things continued to go roses for North Harrison as Kami Gibson singled with one out in the fourth. Hunter Stevens forced Olivia Babinski (running for Gibson) at second. But that was good enough to bring up Payton Craig and she shot a single to center. Platte Valley pitcher Elizabeth Turpin began fighting the strike zone and walked Brandi Rivet on four pitches. Ashlyn Gilpatrick, faced with a 3-2 count, walked on a close pitch despite plenty of squawking from the Eagle fans and dugout, forcing in Rainey Fordyce (running for Stevens) to make it 2-0. Audrey Briggs reached on an error as the third baseman let one get through her legs, bringing in Craig to make it 3-0.
In Jefferson’s 5-3 victory over North Harrison in Conception this year, the Eagles used one bad inning to jump to a lead. Something like that almost happened in the fifth. Amber White, who has had Payton Craig’s number over the last three years, and who bats left-handed, shot an opposite field single down the left field line to start off the fifth for Platte Valley. Jessie Miller followed with another one just past shortstop and Vanessa Pappert ran for her. Mikayla Mattson was called out on strikes, but Craig threw away Ashley Mattson’s grounder to score two runs and put the tying run on base. But Turpin and Stephanie Chor both grounded out and North Harrison still had their lead. The key difference between that inning and the second inning of the 5-3 loss to Platte Valley was that after the first error, North Harrison didn’t make another one Wednesday.
North Harrison could not get an insurance run home in either the fifth or the sixth. In the fifth, Mason Cracraft singled and Carly Rinehart moved her over with a bunt, but Kami Gibson and Hunter Stevens struck out to strand her. Brandi Rivet and Ashlyn Gilpatrick got back to back singles in the sixth with one out, but Audrey Briggs hit a line shot right at Turpin, who doubled off Gilpatrick.
Once again, Amber White, who had Craig’s number, led off the seventh and once again, she shot a single down the left field line. Thankfully, Jessie Miller popped out back to Craig and Mikayla Mattson was called out on strikes. But then Ashley Mattson hit a slow roller up the middle that second baseman Mason Cracraft was able to stop but couldn’t make a play on.
That brought up Turpin, who hit a slow roller up the first base line. Kami Gibson got to it, saw she couldn’t beat Turpin to the bag, and threw it to Cracraft, who had alertly come over to cover first for the final out of the game.
Coach Brandon Craig said that the focus now was to relax and treat everything like any other game. He reminded his players that they had played Maysville in summer ball. The Wolverines beat Norborne in their sectionals to keep their season alive.
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