Brett Emig and Grant Claycomb are seeking to carry the Shamrock baseball team to a banner year this year after a two year layoff. Previously, North Harrison came off a campaign in 2019 in which they nearly went to state before falling 4-2 to LaPlata. All the other teams are showing rust from not having played in 2020. But Emig and Claycomb have not skipped a beat; in practice Thursday, Emig hit three out during batting practice and Claycomb two.
The Shamrocks will have several strong bats to back them up. Brandon Hamilton, a steady hand at third base in 2019, returns this year, as does Wade Briggs. Aaron Lundy was the most improved player from two years ago, spraying the ball all over the field during his chances at bat. Two promising underclassmen that have emerged this year are Cole Kampman and Keygun Johnson. Karsyn Ury is still working on his timing, but when he catches hold of one, he can hit it a long ways.
In the field, North Harrison has the luxury of choosing between seven different pitchers. Grant Claycomb and Matthew Heintz figure to handle the main pitching duties for the Shamrocks, but Brandon Hamilton, Cooper Cracraft, Keygun Johnson, Cole Kampman, and Jerry Gilpatrick are all in the running as well. Brett Emig is likely to handle the catching duties, although he can also play center field and shortstop as needed.
Cole Kampman, Cooper Cracraft, and Aaron Lundy all got some reps at first base Thursday, but Brandon Hamilton can also play there as well as third. Grant Claycomb and Wade Briggs can both play second and short. Keygun Johnson can play either outfield or second base; Kaden Hukill, Kendall Kimbrough, Cruz Ury, and Karsyn Ury are also vying for a spot in the outfield.
Rob Claycomb returns to the helm as the Shamrocks coach, assisted by Aaron Long. He said teams to watch this year would be Northeast Nodaway, Pattonsburg, and Platte Valley.
With the two year layoff, North Harrison and all the other teams in the area are faced with the task of breaking in new players and starting over. One person who will be missed will be Ronald Claycomb, the father of coach Rob Claycomb and grandfather of player Grant Claycomb. He was a constant presence at North Harrison’s games, never afraid to speak his mind, never knowing a stranger. He passed away in December 2019. “It’s going to be a lot quieter without him around,” said coach Rob Claycomb.
The years of 2018 and 2019 saw a lot of success for the Shamrocks, but also tragedy as they also lost Collin Castleberry in 2018. He was instrumental in building up the program; he hit the first-ever home run for the Shamrocks in 2016, against no less of a foe than Northeast Nodaway. He anchored the team with both his bat and his glove, carrying the team with his pitching. By the 2017 season, they had a winning season, and he continued to carry the Shamrocks in 2018, including an impressive 12-1 pitching victory over Platte Valley.
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