North Harrison broke out of a slow start and run ruled Stanberry 12-2 Saturday in the consolation round of the Albany Tournament Saturday to post their first win over Stanberry in seven years. In 2015, the Shamrocks beat Stanberry 12-6, but were beaten by them 3-2 in sectionals that year. That set off a seven year span in which Stanberry had their number.
But that streak came to an end after North Harrison had dropped their first two games of the season. They had their chances against Northeast Nodaway, but dug themselves into a big hole and lost 10-5. They then had to face North Andrew 12 hours later in the Albany Tournament; the Cardinals are a favorite to win the GRC West this year with one of the best coaching minds in the area in Dave Carroll coming out of retirement to help out Todd Simmons, who has built up a solid program over the last several years at North Andrew. But the Shamrocks led North Andrew at one point and the Cardinals needed a walkoff win to advance to the winners bracket.
Stanberry had some big guns coming back along with good numbers; their top three batters in Katlin James, Katie Angle, and Amelia Wallace are a match for anyone’s. They had 23 players listed in the roster, second in the area only to Stewartsville/Osborn with 27.
But when Erica Gerken set down Stanberry in order in the first inning, the Shamrocks jumped on top after Trendi Johnson reached on an error and Jayliegh Robins got the first of four hits to move Trendi Johnson to third. Ruby Heintz hit a grounder to third, but Trendi was cut down at the plate. Katelyn Briggs reached on a fielder’s choice and everyone was safe, but it looked like the Shamrocks’ chances would die when Jaci Davis grounded into a force at home. But then the bottom of the order came through as Kira Robertson and Kayka Wilson both singled to put the Shamrocks up 3-0 after one.
North Harrison reverted to the sloppy play of the Northeast Nodaway game and let in a run in the second to make it 3-1. It would have been worse had Robins not cut down Maranda Evans stealing after the first run had scored. Stanberry threatened again after an uncalled pop fly put another runner on, but pitcher Erica Gerken bailed out her team with a strikeout to get out of the inning.
Gerken, one of the team’s most improved hitters this year, helped herself out with a single. Halle Morgan (running for Gerken) took second on a wild pitch and Trendi Johnson reached on an error to score her. Jayliegh Robins singled Johnson home to make it 5-1.
The lower part of the order came through again in the third as Kira Robertson hit a Texas Leaguer just behind the shortstop for a base hit and took second on a wild pitch. Kayka Wilson hit a tapper down the third base line, Stanberry tried to cut down Robertson at third, but hurried the throw trying to cut down one of the fastest players on the team and the ball got away as Robertson scored.
Wallace tried to get Stanberry back in the game in the fourth as she beat out an infield hit and stole second and third and came home on Kiley Mattson’s fly ball to make it 6-2. But after Evans singled to right for Stanberry, Gerken suddenly started getting stronger and stronger as the day progressed despite the heat and despite being sore from a couple of tumbles she took during the Northeast Nodaway game 12 hours before. She retired the last five Stanberry batters.
Meanwhile, Jayliegh Robins crushed one off the left field wall in the Shamrock fourth for a triple and came home on Ruby Heintz’s groundout to make it 7-2.
Paige Lane led off the Shamrock fifth with a walk and the next two Shamrocks reached on errors to load the bases. This time, Robins crushed an inside the park grand slam off the right field wall to make it 11-2. Robins had a monster tournament for the Shamrocks, getting a three run shot against North Andrew, a grand slam against Stanberry, going 4 for 4 in the Stanberry game and nearly completing a cycle, and finishing with 7 for her last 9.
The next two batters grounded out, but then Jaci Davis kept the inning going with a base hit. She went to second on a wild pitch and Wallace made a rare miscue and threw it away as Davis took third. Hailey Claycomb doubled to left to bring her in to end it.
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