North Harrison is looking to capitalize on its late season run last year, returning many of the same players that were on that squad. In the Jamboree, Jaxcynn Hansel and Hali Smith each bashed three hits. The hitting was spread out with Lani Briggs, Ava Rinehart, and Addison Milligan all getting two and Andi Nail beating out a scratch hit. Nail showed a newfound ability to move runners, as she sacrificed herself twice to bring runs home. A newcomer, Becca Welling, was crushing the ball hard in practice and it carried over into the jamboree as she hit a rocket back to Kristen Tracy for a hard out in the Worth County game and showed the ability to make contact. Ciera Hilburn showed potential to be a slugger as a freshman, once crushing a practice rubber fungo ball as hard as any softball and nearly taking out her partner, Erica Gerken, during hitting drills. Luckily, Gerken, the pitcher for the Shamrocks at the time, had plenty of experience dodging missiles. It is starting to pay off as Hilburn has started putting live pitching into play as a senior this year, hitting one solidly but right at someone in the Worth County game. Raegan Hogan, a freshman, is learning to be a slapper; if it pays off, she has good speed and has a chance of beating out anything she gets in play.
The Shamrocks can slug with anyone with their one through five hitters. Their success will depend on how their six through nine hitters continue to progress and step up for third year coach Justin Joiner.
Against Mercer, North Harrison was able to put it together as Addison Milligan singled with one out in the first. Milligan took second and third on wild pitches and Rinehart walked. Rinehart continued sprinting down to second and Mercer threw down, allowing Milligan to steal home for a successful double steal to make it 1-0. Jaxcynn Hansel's Texas leaguer dropped inn to score Rinehart and Hansel stole second. Hali Smith reached on a fielder's choice to short as Hansel took off for third and made it. Raelin Hogan walked and Becca Welling grounded out to score Hansel. Andi Nail beat out a scratch hit and the ball got away to allow two more runs to cross the plate and make it 5-0.
Kathryn Parkhurst, Lani Briggs, and Addison Milligan all walked and Ava Rinehart's fly ball was dropped, scoring Parkhurst. Jaxcynn Hansel wore one to force in another run. Hali Smith singled to score one and the cutoff throw got away to score another. Raegan Hogan drew another walk and Hansel scored on a wild pitch to make it 10-0.
Sari Rogers beat out an infield hit, took second and third, and scored on Lily Stark's groundout to put Mercer on the board at 10-1.
Becca Welling walked, advanced on Andi Nail's grounder, and took third on a wild pitch. Lani Briggs singled her home, allowing Welling to win a $1 bet as she crossed the plate. Three more Shamrocks singled in Addison Milligan, Ava Rinehart, and Jaxcynn Hansel and Rinehart came home on a wild pitch as the Shamrocks made it 14-1.
Mercer rallied in its half of the third as Paisley Wells and Lanie Rogers walked and Kylie Holt, Payton Davis, and Sari Rogers all singled before Addison Milligan stopped the bleeding with a catch to secure the 14-4 win.
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