The North Harrison Lady Shamrocks represented northwest Missouri, and the HDC Conference, in Friday’s Class 1 state semifinal against the northeast Missouri entrant in the “Final 4”, the Canton Lady Tigers.
Despite controlling a 2-1 lead heading into the final two innings, North Harrison was unable to close out Canton, with the Tigers scoring twice in the 6th inning, and adding an insurance tally in the 7th, for a 4-2 victory that dropped the Shamrocks record to 21-7, improving Canton to 20-5.
Lead-off hitter Brianna Caldwell scored twice and had a base hit and base on balls for Canton, while left fielder Katie Gaus had a home run and two RBI’s for the Tigers. Third baseman Abbey Hultz added a pair of hits and scored a run.
North Harrison was held to just four wins by winning pitcher Olivia Jarvis. Runs were scored by Kami Gibson and Mason Cracraft, with losing pitcher Payton Craig and Sally Briggs picking up RBI’s. Craig allowed seven hits to Canton, while giving up four runs, three of the earned variety. The win moved Jarvis’ record to 15-4, dropping Craig to 14-5.
The Lady Shamrocks salvaged third place in the Class 1 tournament with a 4-2 victory over Chaffee on Friday afternoon. All four of North Harrison’s runs in the third place contest were scored in the bottom of the fourth inning.
The Smithville Lady Warriors also took third place, beating Incarnate Word Academy 1-0 in the Class 3 tournament on Friday night. Smithville, finishing the 2017 softball season at 19-7, had lost to Monett in the semifinal round, 2-0.
Canton won the Class 1 state title, 6-1 over Pilot Grove. In the Class 2 state final, Bowling Green claimed a 6-1 victory over Blair Oaks. The Monett Lady Cubs won the Class 3 first-place hardware, 4-1 over Notre Dame of Cape Girardeau, while Marquette took Class 4 with a 2-0 shutout of Blue Springs South.
