Just days after her high school softball career came to an end, Franklin senior Izzy Harrison got a pretty clear reminder that she still has plenty more to play for in the future.
All it took was a few days of watching the Women’s College World Series on television.
“It would be so awesome to get there,” Harrison said.
She should have the opportunity. Harrison will be joining a University of Kentucky team that finished this season ranked 16th in the nation after making it to the NCAA Super Regional in Alabama.
While the Wildcats were making their run, Harrison was putting together an impressive spring of her own with the Grizzly Cubs, starring both in the pitching circle and at the plate for the Johnson County tournament champions.
Her efforts earned her first team Class 3A/4A All-State honors from the ICGSA, and she is also the Daily Journal’s Player of the Year.
Harrison ranked fourth in the state this spring with 267 strikeouts, and her earned-run average of 0.53 was good for sixth. She also led Franklin offensively with nine home runs, 31 runs batted in and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 1.233 on the way to a 17-win season.
Not having the opportunity to play together in 2020, Harrison said, pushed her and her teammates to excel this time around.
“We were kind of feeling the absence of last year,” she said. “We all knew this was the year we wanted to do more.”
And more they did, especially during the county tournament. Harrison pitched three consecutive complete-game shutouts, getting better with each round — an 11-strikeout one-hitter against Greenwood, a 17-K two-hitter against Whiteland …
… and, of course, a masterpiece in the title game. Harrison outdueled Center Grove star Alexis Rudd, fanning 25 hitters while yielding just one hit and also delivering the game-winning RBI in a 3-0, 12-inning victory.
“That game was really fun,” she recalled. “As a team, the way everybody was pulling through even after the seventh, 10th inning — it was really cool seeing, even as the innings were going on, we were all getting more energetic.”
Despite throwing 19 innings in one day, Harrison never lost her energy or competitive fire, and the ordinarily soft-spoken hurler had a rare vocal moment in the dugout going into that decisive 12th against the Trojans.
“She was like, ‘Guys, I am not kidding anymore,'” ,” Grizzly Cubs coach Shelby Biehl said. “‘This has to be it — we have to do it right now.’ I haven’t seen her do that kind of pump-up talk before, so it was fun to watch that, and obviously see that play out when she won the game.”
As much as Harrison enjoyed her time playing for Franklin, she is beyond excited for the next step. Verbally committed to Kentucky since the fall of her freshman year, she’ll finally have the opportunity to suit up for the Wildcats in just a few more months.
The wait has felt like a long one, especially since campus visits were put on hold for so long due to the pandemic.
“I’m stoked,” Harrison said. “It’s getting surreal — I only have a few more months left — but I’m really excited to play under coach (Rachel) Lawson and meet the girls even more and help out.”
While Harrison is moving on, the imprint she’s leaving behind in Franklin will be a lasting one.
“Our freshmen looked up to her,” Biehl said. “We did a survey earlier in the year, and they mentioned having a role model that’s going to play D-I and has earned these accolades and things, that’s been really important for them.
“She definitely put us on the map.”
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”All-County team” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
The 2021 All-County team for softball:
MacKenzie Bieker, Edinburgh freshman: An all-around threat for the Lancers, batting .451 with 10 doubles, seven home runs, 44 RBIs and 39 runs scored … Also won 14 games in the pitching circle, striking out 134.
Macy Cornelius, Whiteland senior: A mainstay in the Warriors’ infield who also did her share of damage at the plate, hitting .395 with 33 runs scored, 17 RBIs, nine doubles, three triples and a pair of home runs.
Gracie Crawhorn, Edinburgh sophomore: Led the county with a .623 average … scored 41 runs and drove in 34 while hitting 10 doubles, two triples and six homers … Second team 1A/2A All-State.
Corin Dammeier, Franklin sophomore: Led the county champion Grizzly Cubs with a .494 batting average, driving in 21 runs and slugging seven doubles while also providing rock-solid defense behind the plate.
Izzy Harrison, Franklin senior: Kentucky recruit dazzled in the pitching circle with a 0.53 ERA and 267 strikeouts, including 25 in the county title game … Also hit .398 with nine homers and 31 runs batted in.
Debbie Hill, Whiteland junior: Batted .346 with three homers and 20 RBIs for the Warriors while also serving as the team’s workhorse in the pitching circle, striking out 148 batters and posting a 2.70 ERA.
Anna Pritchett, Greenwood junior: Catalyst for the Woodmen batted .443 and led the team with five triples, 19 stolen bases and 25 runs scored … Was also one of the area’s top defensive outfielders.
Alexis Rudd, Center Grove senior: Second team 3A/4A All-State selection led the Trojans with 9 home runs and 40 RBIs while also serving as their No. 1 pitcher … Will play her college ball at Southern Illinois.
Jordan Smith, Whiteland senior: Tore the cover off the ball all season long, hitting .432 with a 1.490 OPS, seven doubles, five triples, 11 home runs and 45 RBIs … Had a pair of three-homer games.
Lex Warner, Center Grove junior: Batted .427 with three homers and 16 runs batted in for the sectional champion Trojans while also playing solid defense at third, where she turned a pair of double plays.
Ashlynn Wolff, Center Grove sophomore: A consistent offensive force in her first high school season, batting .383 with six doubles, four home runs, 32 RBIs and 10 stolen bases for the Trojans.
Honorable mention
Kaitlyn Bailey, Edinburgh; Trinity Borders, Whiteland; Morgan Carter, Franklin; Taylor Dick, Greenwood; Bailey Dowty, Indian Creek; Hannah Emenhiser, Indian Creek; Ally Gavin, Indian Creek; Hannah Haberstroh, Center Grove; Courtney Hankenhoff, Greenwood; Hailey Haynes, GCA; Maddie Hedges, Franklin; Delaney Heminger, Indian Creek; Riley Janda, Center Grove; Erin Lee, Franklin; Halle Nett, Whiteland; Emma Piercy, Whiteland; Maddie Smith, GCA; Catey Streeval, Edinburgh; Kyah Streeval, Edinburgh; Emily Todor, Indian Creek; Haley Wilkerson, Whiteland
[sc:pullout-text-end]
