Addison Milligan Goes Deep, but Shamrock Rally Falls Short

North Harrison’s softball team played a forgettable game Wednesday against conference leader Princeton, falling 15-0. Having five days to lick their wounds following the rainout of the North Andrew game Thursday, they promptly fell behind 9-1 to Hamilton, another team that has had their number in recent years, Monday. But they suddenly realized they could play softball with them and rallied back, closing to within 9-7 before Hamilton got two insurance runs in the sixth and went on to win 11-7.

Addison Milligan had 3 hits, including a home run, to lead the Shamrocks. Hali Smith had three hits, including a double. Lani Briggs had three hits as well. Ava Rinehart had 2 hits, including a double. Raegan Hogan and Andi Nail had 1 hit. Hali Smith, Lani Briggs, and Raegan Hogan all got steals.

Pitcher Hali Smith fought the strike zone in the first two innings, but then Lani Briggs came in and stopped the bleeding, keeping the Shamrocks in the game until they could rally.

The avalanche started early, with Bella Moore’s triple highlighting Hamilton’s four-run first inning. Ava Rinehart doubled in Lani Briggs, who scored all the way from first to cut it to 4-1 in the Shamrock first, but the avalanche continued in the second with Bella Moore getting her second triple of the game in the inning and Teagan Ford adding another. By that point, it was 9-1 in Hamilton’s favor.

North Harrison began its comeback bid in the third as Addison Milligan, Hali Smith, and Lani Briggs all singled to make it 9-3. Becca Welling and Addison Milligan made catches in the field to keep it there after Braelynn Calton had started off the inning with a double in the fourth.

Addison Milligan started off the Shamrock fifth with a home run to right field to make it 9-4. Four straight singles from Hali Smith, Lani Briggs, Ava Rinehart, and Raegan Hogan brought home two more runs to make it 9-6. Jaxcynn Hansel grounded out to score Ava Rinehart to make it 9-7.

But Hamilton got insurance runs in the sixth when Calton scored on a wild pitch and then Leah Henderson grounded out to score Bri Conkling to make it 11-7.