By RICHIE HALL
CARMEL – The Noblesville softball team is in the middle of a tough stretch of its schedule right now.
The Millers are not only holding their own, but they’re also getting some big wins. No victory was greater than the one Noblesville got last Saturday when it stunned then-Class 4A No. 1 Lake Central 7-4 at the Carmel Invitational.
The Millers, ranked No. 10 in last week’s 4A poll, were coming off a tough loss the night before to 4A No. 5 Penn. Noblesville was down 7-2 to the Kingsmen and made a seventh-inning comeback before falling 7-6. It was the Millers’ first defeat of the season after starting 8-0.
Carmel’s Ellie Goddard (above right) batted in a run with a fifth-inning fielder’s choice during the Greyhounds game with Avon last Saturday. (Julie Brown)
“I think it’s a culture we’ve created over the last 10 years,” said Noblesville coach Deke Bullard. “And I think all the previous players have created that culture of, ‘Hey, we’re willing to get into a fight.’ We like the tough schedule, because you’re going to find yourself in the tournament down 2-0, down 3-0.”
Penn led Noblesville 2-0 after four innings, but the Millers tied the game in the top of the fifth inning, when Reese Newsom cracked a right field triple to score Nevaeh Nash and Brookelyn Grayson.
Penn scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth for a 7-2 lead. Noblesville rallied in the top of the seventh: Nash led off by reaching on an error, then scored when Delaney Rundle singled into center field. Newsom stepped up again with a two-run double to bring in Grayson (who drew a walk) and Rundle.
Haley Schatko hit a double to score Newsom and get the Millers within 7-6. Noblesville had runners on third base two different times, but the Kingsmen made plays at home plate to get two outs, then a strikeout ended the game.
Schatko finished with two doubles while Newsom totaled four RBIs. Addison Retzinger pitched 5.1 innings, striking out six and allowing two hits.
Two home runs
Noblesville scored first against Lake Central, as Newsom scored in the second inning on an error. The Indians took a 2-1 lead in the third inning on a two-run double, but the Millers tied it after Grayson’s sacrifice fly sent Macie Duvall home.
Lake Central went up 3-2 in the fifth inning after an RBI single. In the bottom of the fifth, Rundle got on base with a single, then Newsom moved her to second base with a line drive. Izzy Zapp came up next and blasted a home run to right field, and the Millers now led 5-3.
Schatko was next and she cracked her second double of the game. That brought up Maggie Kern and she sent a homer to center field. Noblesville was up 7-3.
“I was just looking to attack early in the count,” said Kern. “I swung at the first pitch early. It didn’t really end up well for me, but I was just going to attack what I like.”
The Millers took care of the Indians three up, three down in the sixth inning. Lake Central got one run back in the seventh, but two flyouts finished the game. Left fielder Zapp caught the second out and shortstop Grayson caught the third out to clinch the win.
“We knew this was going to be a tough game, and I think we came out strong and our seventh inning was strong, too,” said Zapp. “We had each other’s backs. Brookie’s dive was amazing and just sealed the deal.”
“I’ve got a bunch of scrappy fighters on my team and they won’t quit,” said Bullard. “They won’t fold their tents up and go home. They will fight until the end, which is what we love about them. And when you’re willing to do that, you can stay in a lot of games.”
Schatko was 3-for-3, while Newsom and Zapp both finished with two hits. Emme Yee pitched a complete game, striking out five.
“I know I’ll get behind sometimes, but I want to keep getting back and letting my defense get outs and work behind me,” said Yee.
Noblesville is now 9-1 for the season. The Millers keep their tough stretch going, taking on 3A No. 1 New Palestine on Monday. That’s the first of six games this week: Noblesville plays at Westfield on Tuesday, hosts Cathedral Wednesday, then has a home game against Pendleton Heights on Thursday. The Millers host their invitational Saturday, taking on Decatur Central and Plainfield.
Carmel plays two
Carmel’s young team continued to battle at its own invitational, taking on Lake Central last Friday. The Greyhounds fell 18-6 in five innings.
The ‘Hounds scored the first run of their game when Jayden Kleiner sent a home run into center field in the first inning. But the Indians blasted through the second inning, putting up 14 runs. Lake Central added another run in the third inning for a 15-1 lead.
Carmel kept battling, getting five runs in the third inning. Kleiner got home on a wild pitch, Megan Pike singled in Mia Fleming, Avery Klein scored when Keira Libel drew a bases-loaded walk and Winni Owens sent Ellie Goddard and Pike home with a right field double.
Carmel played Avon the next day, falling 9-2. The Greyhounds scored their first run in the second inning; Goddard led off with a double and scored when Owens reached on an error.
Kleiner scored Carmel’s second run in the fifth inning, getting home on Goddard’s RBI fielder’s choice. The ‘Hounds were within 3-2, but Avon put up six runs in the sixth inning, including a grand slam.
“While we’re young, we just need to execute better, and that’s not what we’re doing,” said Carmel coach Stephanie Kleiner. “Can’t win if you don’t score runs. We need to make some changes with our approach at the plate and hopefully we can do that.”
The Greyhounds are 3-11 and play Thursday at Tri-West before hosting Guerin Catholic on Friday.
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