Harmon leads Shadow Ridge past Cimarron, earns ‘bragging rights’

Two talented players who are friends off the softball diamond found themselves facing one another on Thursday.

Mandy Harmon and Shadow Ridge walked away with the win.

The Mustangs earned a 9-3 road victory over Cimarron-Memorial behind a strong pitching and hitting performance by Harmon.

Harmon, who was 4-for-4 with two RBIs, tossed a four-hitter with 11 strikeouts.

Cimarron pitcher Carrie Sheehan played summer ball with Harmon on the Rage Gold traveling team, and the two became close friends.

“Carrie is an amazing pitcher, one of the best,” Harmon said. “We’re very good friends, but I’ve got the bragging rights, and I’ll give it to her.”

Cimarron (15-7, 5-2 Northwest League) took a 2-0 lead in the first inning before Shadow Ridge (14-10, 6-1) rallied. The Mustangs scored five runs in the third inning to take the lead for good.

“We started off shaky, but we didn’t give up,” Shadow Ridge coach Cynthia Winter said. “I was very pleased with the way they hung in there and were able to come back.”

The Spartans scored their final run in the third inning on a one-out single by Hannah Williams. But Cimarron left the bases loaded as Harmon struck out the next two batters to end the inning.

“She’s a veteran pitcher who understands how to pitch to each hitter,” Cimarron coach Steve Gorden said of Harmon. “She’s strong, and she hit her spots well.”

The Mustangs sent nine batters to the plate in the fourth inning and scored the game’s final four runs on two-run singles by Harmon and Mary Jordan.

Ashley Eldridge went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI for Shadow Ridge.

Nora Murphy was 2-for-4 with a run for Cimarron.