New Coach Seeks to Take Shamrocks to Next Level Behind Erica Gerken

Things are totally different for the Shamrock softball team as new coach Justin Joyner took over from Brandon Craig, who had 314 career wins as the coach. Last year's team finished 12-12 and lost several key players to graduation. But they return pitcher Erica Gerken, bring up a pair of promising freshmen, and have some horses left over. They had several quality wins, beating State Quarterfinalist King City, Gallatin (21 wins), Winston (20 wins), and Green City (ranked in state at the time). Gerken has four no hitters to her credit, including one in junior high, one against East Harrison in 2021, and no-hitters against Albany and Green City last year. The Shamrocks showed they can beat anyone on a given night; the goal is to get to where they can do it all the time.

They got off to a promising start in the jamboree by beating a team that had beaten them last year, dismantling Mercer 7-0. One of the two freshmen, Lani Briggs, started off the game with a pop fly down the right field line that dropped in fair and she stretched a single into a double and made it on a close play. Ruby Heintz beat out an infield hit, Briggs broke for third, and the first baseman threw it away as Briggs scored and Heintz took second. Jaci Davis singled to left to score Heintz, singles by Kira Robertson and Jaxcynn Hansel scored Davis, and Hailey Claycomb hit a shot just past second to score two and put North Harrison up 5-0.

From there, Erica Gerken shut down the red shirts with two innings of hitless ball; she only struck out one, but everything Mercer hit was either right at her or second baseman Carmon Fordyce. Jaci Davis crashed a double off the left field wall that took a crazy bounce and rolled away, scoring two more in the second to cap off the win.

The Shamrocks lose four year starter Jayleigh Robins at catcher, but one of their two freshmen, Lani Briggs, caught Gerken, freeing up returning third baseman Jaci Davis and shortstop Ruby Heintz to anchor the infield. Kayka Wilson and Andi Nail return to platoon first base; both have shown the ability to make plays. Wilson pulled off two double plays against Stanberry last year to quash a couple of rallies, while Nail pulled off two double plays in the Gallatin game. 

Carmon Fordyce bloomed late in the season last year with her bat. She suffered a scary injury in basketball last winter, missing most of the season, but the hunger to return to the diamond was there, and she nailed down the second base slot. She showed she knew what she was doing at second, hustling to cover first on a bunt. When Gerken is on her game, a lot of enemy hitters will hit it right at Fordyce, but she was on her game Tuesday. She can also catch; she caught the third game against Worth County.

Anchoring down the outfield were Hailey Claycomb in left, Kira Robertson in center, and Jaxcynn Hansel in right. Natalie Parkhurst is quick and versatile, able to play anywhere Coach Joyner needs her to.

The Shamrocks took their lumps in the Jamboree playing against highly touted Worth County and South Harrison; they fell to Worth County 6-2 and South Harrison 7-0. They gave up five run innings in both of those games. The goal will be to keep such games from snowballing and give themselves a chance to recover.