North Harrison joins GRC, as four Lady Shamrocks named to all-state softball teams

North Harrison’s softball program had two selections to the Class 1 all-state first team, and two more to the second-team, in balloting announced earlier this week.

From the Lady Shamrocks, catcher Emma Craig joined Salisbury’s Cayden Stapleton and Walnut Grove’s Lauren Johnson as first-team all-state catchers, with Rainey Fordyce a first-team outfielder, joining Kadence George of state champion Vienna, Carissa Martin of DeKalb, and Paige Carvajal of LaPlata.

North Harrison lost the Class 1, District 15 championship game to Princeton 2-0.  Platte Valley beat Princeton in the sectional round 8-6, and went on to finish second in the state, falling in Saturday’s state title game to Vienna, 1-0.  Platte Valley’s Malia Collins was named to the first-team infielders.

Jessi Miller of Platte Valley is a second-team all-state pitcher, along with North Harrison’s Carly Rinehart.  Maggie Collins of state runner-up Platte Valley is a second-team catchers, with North Harrison’s Jayleigh Robins a second-team infielder.  Stanberry’s Lexi Craig was a second-team outfield selection, with Platte Valley’s Sydnee Dean the second-team at-large pick.

North Harrison athletics had a big week to move into November, with the Grand River Conference, on October 22nd, announcing North Harrison as the 16th member of the conference for 2021-2022, replacing Braymer, after the Bobcats, likely as a result of experiencing long and expensive travel times as the easternmost school in the GRC West, leaving for the CLAA last summer.  The GRC vote to admit the school district from Eagleville was unanimous.  Tom Johnson spoke with North Harrison Athletic Director Aaron Long after the decision was finalized.

Here is the 2020 All-State Class 1 softball team:

1st Team:

Pitchers: 

Marsie Messersmith – Vienna

Olivia Coy – LaPlata

Jenna Daggett – Weaubleau

Regan Robinson – Stewartsville-Osborn

Catchers:

Emma Craig – North Harrison

Cayden Stapleton – Salisbury 

Lauren Johnson – Walnut Grove

Infielders:

Pieper Wood – LaPlata

Malia Collins – Platte VAlley

Khloe Wyatt – Salisbury 

Lexi Plackemeier – Silex

Karissa Feeler – Vienna

Riley Strange – Knox County 

Outfielders: 

Kadence George – Vienna

Carissa Martin – DeKalb

Rainey Fordyce – North Harrison

Paige Carvajal – LaPlata

At-Large:

Kyler Welch – Fair Play

2nd Team:

Pitchers:

Jessi Miller – Platte Valley

Jaden Howard – Salisbury

Carly Rinehart – North Harrison

Taylor Howard – Silex

Catchers:

Emmie Johnson – Community 

Maggie Collins – Platte Valley

Lexus Hagood – Neelyville

Infielders:

Jayleigh Robins – North Harrison 

Tegan Burbridge – Canton

Lyndsea Moore – Naylor

Katie Starbuck – Harrisburg

Rebbie Reagan – DeKalb

Kendall Morris – Halfway

Outfielders:

Breanne Haines – Salisbury

Abby Ogle – Cairo

Whitney Mitchell – Naylor

Lexi Craig – Stanberry

At-Large:

Sydnee Dean – Platte Valley