Cierra Harrison’s journey to Mizzou; pushing through tragedy in the circle

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Mizzou pitcher Cierra Harrison has had quite the freshman season in Columbia with an 8-2 record and a 2.33 ERA, but the Kansas City native wasn't planning to stay close to home until tragedy struck her family.

When Harrison was entering her junior year of high school, her father passed away.

“Since I was like seven, he was my coach all the way up until I really got to a very competitive level," Harrison said. "He was my back bone and my rock and he was my catcher every time I needed to go throw.”  

Cierra's mother, Dawn, said that Cierra questioned whether or not she could return to the field after her father's passing, but she knew she needed to push through for him.

“She didn’t think she would be able to do it anymore after being with him so long and his presence not being there," Dawn said. “Actually I didn’t know if I was going to play my junior year, but my mom told me I need to do it for him and push for him,” Cierra said.

Cierra initially didn't plan on staying close to home, but with the close family bond that was created at Mizzou, she decided to become a Tiger.

“We were providing her with a real solid family base because knowing that family meant so much to her and that she was missing a key part of her family in her dad and how valuable he was in her development," said head coach Larissa Anderson.

This season was just the start of what Cierra plans on doing in Columbia, she says, "I'm here to stay," and Anderson says, "CC is going to be the franchise player of this program."

You can watch the full story tonight on Sports Zone at 9:30 and 10:30 p.m.