Camden Castleberry Hits Home Run as Shamrocks Gain Split at Jamboree

North Harrison, having to replace five seniors, gained a split in their jamboree last Tuesday. They beat Mercer 5-2, lost to South Harrison 2-0, and tied 4-4 with Worth County. A win over Worth County would have created a three way tie for first between North Harrison, Worth County, and South Harrison. The numbers from the past few years are there, though, and they have shown some improvement with 18 players out this year. 

The Shamrocks jumped on Mercer early as Trendi Johnson doubled to the wall in center and then Camden Castleberry followed with a 250 foot home run to put them up 2-0 in the third. With two outs, Jaci Davis restarted the Shamrocks with a single to right center, went to second on a wild pitch, and came home on Ruby Heintz's single to make it 3-0.

But North Harrison lost a ball in the sun as Rainey Michael's hit dropped in for two bases to bring home Emma Shipley to cut it to 3-1. Later, she came home on Kaydee Hill's single to make it 3-2.

North Harrison got the runs back in the second when Erica Gerken reached on an error. Halle Morgan struck out, but Trendi Johnson's pop fly to right dropped in for a base hit. Johnson and Hailey Claycomb (running for Gerken) took second and third on a wild pitch and then Claycomb scored on a wild pitch. Jayliegh Robins hit a screamer into the gap in right center for a triple as Johnson scored to make it 5-2.

Mercer threatened twice to cut the lead, but couldn't score. In the second, with two outs, Summer Martin reached on an error and stole second and third. But pitcher Erica Gerken got out of the inning by striking out Emma Shipley with some high heat. In the third, Maddi Fisher reached on a dropped fly ball with one out, but then Bailey Houk popped out to second and Shamrock catcher Ruby Heintz gunned down Fisher stealing.

Pitted against South Harrison pitching ace Abbey Henry, the Shamrocks fell behind 2-0 and struggled to get any good swings against the purple shirts. But they got better swings as the game progressed, but they could never make a dent in their deficit. A wild finish against Worth County capped their night.