HEAD: Millers split two games at PBR Invitational in Kokomo
Class 4A second-ranked Noblesville was invited to take part in the PBR Invitational in Kokomo at Championship Park. Games were also played last Friday and Saturday downtown at Municipal Stadium.
The Millers grabbed a win over No. 6 Mooresville in come-from-behind fashion, but had the opposite result in their second game of the day with fifth-ranked Lake Central having a big inning late to win.
Noblesville 6, Mooresville 3
In the Millers’ first game at Championship Park on the southeast side of Kokomo, they faced the first of two ranked opponents on the day in the Pioneers.
The first at-bats in the bottom of the first was kind to Noblesville. Leadoff hitter Trevor Corbett scored the first run on a Brendin Oliver balk. Aiden Reynolds made it 2-0 when he stole home.
The Pioneers put their first on the board in the top of the fourth and added another pair in the fifth to take a 3-2 lead.
The Millers erased the one run deficit quickly in the home half of the fifth. Brady Bishop led off with a single to left. Corbett grounded a base hit to left that scored Bishop for a 3-3 tie.
Reynolds reached on an error by the Pioneers’ center fielder, moving Corbett to third. A Tanner Miller two-run single to center, sent Corbett and Reynolds home, giving Noblesville the lead again 5-3. Aiden Ramsey scored on a McCoy Fulk hit for the 6-3 final.
Joe Glander came in to pitch the final two innings, striking out three and only allowing one hit to shut the door on the Pioneers.
Sophomore Beckett Doane made his presence known, whiffing 10 Mooresville hitters in five innings, allowing three hits and three unearned runs to get the win.
The Millers had just five hits at the plate, but were able to take advantage with key baserunning that resulted in runs.
Miller led with two RBIs, while Corbett and Reynolds scored two runs apiece.
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Lake Central 10, Noblesville 9
It was a slow start offensively for both the Indians and Millers. But a few innings played big roles in the outcome. Unfortunately for Noblesville, Lake Central scored nine in the sixth inning to come-from-behind for a 10-9 win.
The Indians struck first in the bottom of the second. But a slim 1-0 lead was short-lived.
Noblesville tied it 1-1 in the top of the third on a Reynolds double that scored Corbett.
Following a Jacob Baker hit, Nolan Decker grounded into a double play, but that still allowed Reynolds to score to take a 2-1 lead. Ramsey singled and Fulk walked. Then, the advantage grew to 4-1 after Glander tripled to center, sending both Ramsey and Fulk home.
In the top of the fifth, the bases were loaded for Miller. He walked to score Ramsey. Fulk scored to extend it to 6-1 on a Josh Peek sacrifice fly.
Decker threw five innings, striking out seven. In the sixth, Lake Central found every way to score on Quinton Black, Eli Hall and Reynolds out of the bullpen. The Indians scored nine runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 10-6 lead.
The Millers made one last ditch effort in the top of the seventh, scoring three runs, but their comeback fell short, 10-9.
Noblesville (5-2, 0-0 HCC) finally gets to play at home next week after one road game and six neutral site games to begin its season. The Fishers Tigers (5-4, 1-1 HCC) come to Dunker Field on Thursday for the first game of the two-game Hoosier Crossroads Conference series.
The Millers were originally slated to begin HCC play last week against Avon, but colder weather and field conditions at Avon postponed both games of that series to later dates.