North Harrison’s baseball team overcame a 5-1 deficit and rallied to beat Stewartsville/Osborn 13-6 Saturday in the first round of districts. They overcame seven runners being thrown out on the basepaths by stringing together timely hits and continuing to peak at the right time. The Shamrocks had started off 1-9 before a 10-2 win over South Harrison turned it around. Since then, they won 6 out of their last 9 games, scoring 103 runs, or over 11 runs per game, during that stretch.
The run looked like it was going to continue in the Shamrock first when Keygun Johnson doubled down the left field line and Brandon Hamilton singled just past short for the first run of the game. Johnson was safe at home on a close play and Hamilton took second on the throw and stole third. Matthew Heintz walked. But as Heintz was stealing second on the first and third situation, Hamilton was picked off third to kill the rally.
That was the perfect way to fire up the Wildcards, and all hell threatened to break loose in the second and third innings. In the second, Braxton Gibson doubled off the wall in left and Alan Corkins singled him home. Diesel Griffin was hit by a pitch and they stole second and third. Troy Corkins grounded out to score one run and a wild pitch brought home another to make it 3-0.
After another baserunning misadventure, when Evan Schreiber reached on a two base error but was thrown out trying to take third on an errant return throw to the pitcher, North Harrison walked in two more runs to put the Wildcards up 5-1.
The third Shamrock out on the basepaths was recorded in the fourth when Keygun Johnson tried to tag up and take third on Brandon Hamilton’s fly ball to center, only to be gunned down at third. But Matthew Heintz was hit by a pitch and Cooper Cracraft worked a walk after a 3-2 count and Jerry Gilpatrick doubled one run home. Cole Kampman singled in two more to cut the deficit to 5-4.
Matthew Heintz came on in the third after the game threatened to turn into a walk parade for the Wildcards and held them to one run the rest of the way. Meanwhile, the Shamrocks used another two out rally to take the lead in the fourth when Keygun Johnson was hit by a pitch. Brandon Hamilton spoiled a breaking ball and hit it to center field and Matthew Heintz singled home Johnson and took second as Hamilton was safe at third. Cooper Cracraft, Jerry Gilpatrick, and Cole Kampman all walked to force in two more runs to put the Shamrocks in front 7-5.
The Shamrocks loaded up the bases in the fifth when Caleb Richards walked and then beat out a force play to second. Keygun Johnson reached on an errant throw and Brandon Hamilton singled home two runs. Matthew Heintz walked to load the bases and Cooper Cracraft singled and Jerry Gilpatrick grounded out to score two more runs to make it 11-5.
Later in the inning, Karsyn Ury hit a smash to third that resulted in a double play, but this time, North Harrison got the momentum back when they pulled off a 1-6-3 double play to end Stewartsville/Osborn’s chances in the sixth. The Shamrocks got two more runs in the sixth when Matthew Heintz got hit to force in a run and Cooper Cracraft flied out to score Keygun Johnson. Brennon Lundy scored on a wild pitch to bring the Wildcards to within 13-6, but Heintz struck out the last three batters to seal the win.
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