Kameron Mars, Hawks Show Resilience, Salvage Final Game at Albany

Against North Harrison, the Hawks dug themselves into an 11-3 hole. But this time, they fought their way back to get a 15-11 win to salvage the final game of the tournament.

The first inning belonged to the Shamrocks as Burke suddenly started fighting the strike zone and walked four batters in the inning. Jaxcynn Hansel scored on a wild pitch to put North Harrison up 1-0. Raegan Hogan doubled to score Addison Milligan and Ava Rinehart to make it 3-0. Hali Smith and Hogan scored on wild pitches to make it 5-0. Becca Welling beat out an infield hit to score Shayla Vandiver to make it 6-0. It would have been worse had not Hawk center fielder Hailey McClure came flying out of nowhere to snatch Lani Briggs’ pop fly behind the shortstop position and second base for the final out.

Tenley Griffith walked to start the Hawk first and took second and third on wild pitches. Kameron Mars showed her value to her new team by putting pressure on the defense as she flew down the line after a ground ball and forced an error, scoring Griffith. She later came around to score on a wild pitch to make it 6-2.

In the Shamrock second, Ava Rinehart nearly had a home run, but got a ground-rule double after the ball short-hopped the fence. She later scored on a dropped fly ball to put North Harrison up 7-2.

Emmery Smith walked and took second on a wild pitch. Nova Smith singled her home to cut the Hawk deficit to 7-3.

North Harrison built up a seemingly insurmountable lead in the third, scoring four runs with two outs. Shayla Vandiver walked. Becca Welling and Lani Briggs advanced her to third with groundouts. Jaxcynn Hansel walked. At that point, Tenley Griffith replaced Alli Burke on the mound. Throughout the first three games, Coach Lisle was moving a lot of people around, trying to find something that worked. At first, it looked like more of the same as Hansel stole second and Addison Milligan singled down the right field line to score two to make it 9-3. Ava Rinehart shot a double over Griffith’s outstretched glove to score Milligan and came home on Hali Smith’s single to make it 11-3.

But then Griffith suddenly settled down and showed off the form that made her successful last year, shutting down the potent Shamrock lineup the rest of the way. Meanwhile, the Hawks began their comeback bid after Alli Burke shot a line drive off shortstop Ava Rinehart’s glove into left field for a base hit. Avery Chadwick shot a single just past third to put runners on first and second. They took second and third on a wild pitch. Parker Crabtree grounded to pitcher Hali Smith, who cut down Burke trying to score for the first out as Chadwick took third and Crabtree first. Kayleece Puls walked to load the bases. Emmery Smith walked to force in a run. Hailey McClure singled to center to score Parker Crabtree and Kayleece Puls to make it 11-6. Tenley Griffith singled to score Emmery Smith and Hailey McClure to make it 11-8. Tenley went from first to third on a wild pitch and scored on Kameron Mars’ shot off the second baseman’s glove to make it 11-9.

Aided by a diving grab by Chadwick behind the plate, Gilman kept the Shamrocks off the board in the fourth.

Chadwick reached third on an error and Parker Crabtree walked. Kayleece Puls hit a pop fly that looked like trouble, but Hali Smith, playing in center field, made a running grab behind short. Chadwick tagged up and scored on the play to make it 11-10. An error and a walk loaded the bases, and Tenley Griffith walked to force in Parker Crabtree to tie it up at 11. Kameron Mars singled to break the tie and score Puls to make it 12-11. Alli Burke nearly had a home run, but singled off the wall to score Emmery Smith and Nova Smith. Tenley Griffith scored on a wild pitch to make it 15-11.