Hali Smith tossed a no-hitter against Putnam County as the Shamrocks won 17-2 against the Midgets, a major turnaround from recent years when Putnam had North Harrison’s number even when they were down. The Midgets were so shocked by the outcome that they ran their players a lap around the field after the game and after North Harrison’s 9-8 victory in the JV nightcap.
The mound had been dominated by Erica Gerken, who pitched nearly every inning the last three years for the Shamrocks. The big question was who would take over for her since she graduated this year. North Harrison has been breaking in four different arms, including Smith, Lani Briggs, Addison Milligan, and Gracie Young. Young was gone for Wednesday’s game (camp), but Briggs and Milligan both pitched in the nightcap.
Ava Rinehart steps into the catcher’s slot, which she has been playing for a long time in travel ball and junior high. She showed she is ready for varsity level action. Andi Nail and Kayka Wilson return and will split first base and outfield. Nail was one of those kids who kept going even when everything was unraveling around her, turning into a steady anchor at first and catching every pop fly remotely in her area. Kayka’s bat has improved this year.
Carmon Fordyce returns at second base, which she locked down last year. She took away a potential hit from Putnam County in the third, making a shoestring catch to preserve Smith’s no-hitter.
With Rinehart moving behind the plate, Lani Briggs was able to move into the field, where she will play shortstop. Briggs and Fordyce can both back up Rinehart behind the plate when needed. Jaxcynn Hansel, who started as a freshman last year in the outfield, moves from right field to third base to take over the slot vacated by Jaci Davis, who graduated last year. Kira Robertson returns to play center field and Addison Milligan will take over the left field slot. Gracie Young, another freshman, will figure into the mix someplace as well.
After the Shamrocks worked around an error and stranded a Midget runner at third, Addison Milligan shot a single just past short for her first ever hit at this level. Lani Briggs reached on an error and Addison scored all the way from first. Ava Rinehart singled to left to put Briggs on third and the two pulled off a successful double steal to make it 2-0. Jaxcynn Hansel reached on an error to plate Rinehart to make it 3-0 after one.
With two outs in the second and Putnam playing really shallow, Addison Milligan doubled over everyone’s heads to keep it going. Lani Briggs singled to put runners on first and third and that was all Ava Rinehart needed to crush one over everyone’s heads to the left field wall to make it 6-0.
Putnam County made a bid to get back in the game in the third as Smith walked the bases loaded and two runners came home on wild pitches. But she struck out one batter and Carmon Fordyce’s shoestring catch took away a base hit and kept North Harrison in front 6-2.
In the Shamrock third, Carmon Fordyce reached as the first baseman had her foot off the bag. Jaxcynn Hansel singled and Kira Robertson was hit. A rare miscue happened as Fordyce made a dash to the plate on a passed ball situation and was out, but Hansel and Robertson took second and third and Hali Smith hit a pop fly that dropped into right field as Hansel scored and Robertson took third. Smith stole second. Andi Nail struck out, but Addison Milligan reached on a dropped fly ball as Smith and Robertson scored and Milligan took second. Two wild pitches brought Milligan around to score. Lani Briggs restarted the Shamrocks with a base hit just past short and Ava Rinehart crushed a double over everyone’s head to score Briggs and bringing her within a triple of completing the cycle. Jayliegh Robins was the last Shamrock to hit for the cycle in 2019. Kayka Wilson singled to right to bring Rinehart home. By the time the dust had settled, North Harrison was up 12-2 after three and six runs had crossed the plate.
In the fourth, Putnam County walked the bases full. They nearly got out of the inning, but then a wild pitch scored Jaxcynn Hansel to open the floodgates again. Lani Briggs walked and then Ava Rinehart could not quite complete the cycle, but her double down the left field line scored Kira Robertson and Andi Nail and put Briggs on third. Putnam nearly had Briggs picked off third, but she escaped the rundown and scored as Rinehart took third. Kayka Wilson walked and then Carmon Fordyce reached on a dropped fly ball to make it 17-2, ending the game on the 15 run rule.
North Harrison JV 9, Putnam County 8
The nightcap was much closer; the Shamrocks took a big early lead, but then needed a walkoff to get the win and complete the sweep.
The first inning was highlighted by Kenzie Milligan’s triple into the left center field gap to plate two runs and Carmon Fordyce’s infield hit as the Shamrocks led 4-0 after one. Lani Briggs scored on a wild pitch in the inning as well.
But after the Shamrocks stranded Briggs at third after she got there with no outs, the Midgets started coming back, using hits and walks to take a 5-4 lead. Two RBI groundouts by Kayka Wilson and Kaydence Lambert put the Shamrocks up 6-5, but a double, four walks, three wild pitches, and a hit batter put Putnam back in front 8-6.
But Hali Smith, who beat the Midgets with her arm in the first game, beat them with her legs in the second as she beat out an infield hit to start the Shamrock fourth. She stole second and took third on a wild pitch. Jaxcynn Hansel doubled over the field fielder’s head to cut it to 8-7. After a long battle with the pitcher, Annabelle Owens had a good hold on a 3-2 pitch and walked. Hansel stole third and then Annabelle stole second. Addison Milligan walked and then Carmon Fordyce’s pop fly to right dropped in for a base hit to score Hansel to tie it at 8-8. Kayka Wilson popped out, but Kaydence Lambert walked to force in a run and win it for the Shamrocks.
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