Shamrocks Send Off Seniors With 49th Straight Conference Win

North Harrison got its 49th straight conference win and its seventh straight HDC conference title Thursday, beating Winston 11-0 to claim the conference title. The current team has not lost since a 4-3 loss to Pattonsburg in 2012. “I remember that game well,” said Coach Brandon Craig a couple of years ago when we talked about their current streak. “Haley Craig was a freshman, we were tied 3-3, and I gave her a no steal sign.” But Haley took off for second and was thrown out, and Pattonsburg got the 4-3 win. North Harrison fell to 1-4 for the year, but they turned that season around, crushing the Panthers in their next two meetings, winning districts, and going 16-10 for the year. That was the last time Haley missed a sign, and ever since then, the team has bought into Craig’s motto of attitude, effort, and fundamentals.

On Thursday night, the Shamrocks sent off five seniors, Ashlynn Gilpatrick, Kaylee Hilburn, Kenna Slaughter, Kylie Pottorff, and Hunter Stevens, all of whom started and were recognized after the win. Their favorite memories were going to state in 2017, the bus ride down, and talking about life in the hotel with current and former players late into the night.  Least favorite memories included wondering how many games they were going to run after a bad game. One player’s advice to the younger players was, “Don’t make Craig mad.”

Also recognized were golf athletes Sara Clawson and exchange student Guliza Kyzy.
Madison Beatty beat out a slow roller down the first base line to start the game for Winston, but pitcher Ashlynn Gilpatrick got out of the inning with two called third strikes and a groundout.
North Harrison’s first five batters reached safely as Carly Rinehart shot a single down the right field line, Emma Craig shot a single off the pitcher’s glove, Rainey Fordyce and Ashlynn Gilpatrick singled up the middle, and Kami Gibson singled to right center. Hunter Stevens and Kenna Slaughter grounded out to bring in two runs, and when the dust had settled, the Shamrocks were up 5-0.
Gilpatrick only allowed the one hit and one ball to leave the infield, a flyout to center fielder Rainey Fordyce in the second. With two outs, an errant pickoff throw got away from first baseman Hunter Stevens, but she recovered to get the red shirt out at second as Kami Gibson got the tag down.
With two outs, Rainey Fordyce got her second hit, a double down the right field line. Ashlynn Gilpatrick singled to left to bring her in, and Kami Gibson’s single got away from the center fielder for another run to make it 7-0.

In the third, Kylie Pottorff singled to center and went to second and third on wild pitches. She scored on Carly Rinehart’s infield hit to make it 8-0.

Rainey Fordyce got her third hit in the fourth, hitting a gap double to right center field. Ashlynn Gilpatrick hit a slow roller down the third base line and beat it out to put runners on first and third. For some reason, Winston had their outfielders playing in, and Kami Gibson took full advantage, crushing a triple to the wall in left center, bringing in both runs. Hunter Stevens popped out, but Kenna Slaughter grounded out to bring in a run. Kylie Pottorff had the highlight of the night, crushing a double off the center field wall that just missed leaving the yard.