Sunday, September 25, 2022

Brooklyn Richardson's Home Run Caps Tiger Outburst Against Shamrocks

Worth County erupted for eight runs in the seventh inning to break up a tight game against North Harrison, winning its first game of the North Harrison Tournament 14-5 Saturday. Brooklyn Richardson's three run home run in the inning was the decisive blow.

Before that, the game was a good back and forth game between the two teams. North Harrison had been riding a three game winning streak and playing excellent softball, while Worth County had baserunners galore against South Harrison but couldn't move them around in a 9-0 loss. North Harrison was bound and determined to avenge their earlier loss to the Tigers as pitcher Erica Gerken struck out Autumn Cousatte in the first inning, not an easy thing to do. Jayliegh Robins hit a home run to dead center field in the bottom of the inning to put the Shamrocks on the board.

In the Tiger second, Hailey Adwell singled to right and Kara Staton walked. They pulled off a successful double steal, and Lanie Cousatte grounded out to score her to tie it at 1-1. 

Worth County took the lead in the third when Autumn Cousatte singled to center and stole second. Brooklyn Richardson hit a shot off right fielder Katelyn Briggs' glove for a hit to put runners on first and shirt, and she stole as well. Kynah Steele grounded out to score Cousatte, and Hailey Adwell hit a shot off left fielder Amber Wilson's glove that turned into a double that scored Richardson to make it 3-1.

With two outs in the third, North Harrison got the runs back when Trendi Johnson beat out a slow roller down the third base line for a hit. Jayliegh Robins tripled after center fielder Hailey Adwell made a diving try but missed, scoring Johnson. Ruby Heintz singled to right to score Robins to tie it at 3-3.

A Shamrock error in the fourth led to three Tiger runs. Lanie Cousatte reached on shortstop Ruby Heintz's throwing error. The Shamrocks nearly got out of the inning when Ali Brown flied out and Riley Ridge grounded out to advance Cousatte. But Brylee Rush singled to center to score Cousatte; she took off for second on the throw home and was safe on a close play. Autumn Cousatte walked and Brooklyn Richardson doubled to the wall in left to make it 6-3.

North Harrison got two of the runs back in the fifth after Amber Wilson's sharp grounder was knocked down by Kynah Steele at short, but she had no play. Trendi Johnson doubled into the gap just past Kynah Steele to put runners on second and third. Jayliegh Robins grounded out to score Wilson and Ruby Heintz grounded out to score Johnson to cut it to 6-5. But the Shamrocks could not tie it in the sixth as Erica Gerken hit a foul ball that Tiger first baseman Abbi Brown dove in front of the fence halfway between first and home to grab, and caught Katelyn Briggs' screamer to rob her of extra bases.

The floodgates opened in the seventh after Brooklyn Richardson's leadoff walk. The Tigers were well-prepared for the game, constantly laying off the high pitches that Albany was chasing in North Harrison's 12-0 win. The efforts paid off as Kynah Steele singled, Hailey Adwell put down a bunt, but Richardson was safe on the force try at third to load the bases. Kara Staton hit a ground rule double to score Brooklyn Richardson and Kynah Steele. Lanie Cousatte flied out to score Steele and put Liz Brown (running for Staton) on third. Ali Brown walked. ZeeAnna Gladstone beat out an infield hit to short to put runners on first and second. Autumn Cousatte singled to center to score one, and then Brooklyn Richardson, who hurt the Shamrocks the first time with her pitching, did so with her bat, hitting a three run home run to empty the bases. Richardson nearly completed a cycle, getting a single, double, and a home run.

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