Just a Bunch of Friends Playing Ball: Shamrocks Make Elite Eight in Softball World Series!!!!!

Despite having to check out of hotels this morning, and having airplane tickets and vacation schedules to the contrary, these girls just kept playing. You see, because this team was just a bunch of friends that wanted to play together, and they were going against some of the best U-16B teams in the country they were not expecting to get far in this Softball World Series. Many of the teams here in Missouri have committed ball players who treat softball like their full time job, playing softball year around. The Shamrocks have four girls on their roster who don’t play high school ball, one little sister who is a U-14, and a few three sport athletes.  But the girls and parents all like each other and stayed together these past four years, some as long as six years, because they love spending summers together. And good things have happened, softball wise. Today they shocked the KC Chaos when the Shamrocks, down 3-1 in the final inning put all their teamwork and belief in each other in play. Maddie Policht stepped up, took a deep breath, and led with a single. Then Margaret Haws and Amy Abel both followed suit, playing conservatively. The next two batters struck out and all eyes were on Bri Roberts with bases loaded as she stepped to the plate. She hit a shot that had the crowd on their feet and two runs scored. Next up was TJ Freburg and Abel on 3rd base who had been given the go ahead by Coach Haws to read the play. On the 3rd pitch, Abel ran on a passed ball and just made it under the tag to win the game. The crowd erupted into cheers and tears on both sides. Whatever happens at 12:30 today as Elite Eight play begins, flights will be made and family vacations will be taken, but this moment will be forever. The Shamrocks in the Elite Eight. Who would’ve thought love of the game and for each other could’ve brought them this far.