Baseball roundup: Big third inning lifts Rocks past Avon

The REPORTER

The Westfield baseball team used a big third inning to beat Avon 5-3 Wednesday in a home Hoosier Crossroads Conference game.

The Shamrocks got their first run in the second inning, as Lincoln Hoffman scored on Johnny Ewing’s RBI fielder’s choice. Westfield took further control of the game in the third: Drew Law got home on a fielder’s choice bunt from Hoffman, then Ian Wilson scored on an error.

Hoffman got home when Nick Fero reached on an error. Caden Lindsey singled in Fero with a left field hit to give the ‘Rocks a 5-0 lead. The Orioles scored one run in the fourth inning and two more in the sixth, but Westfield took care of Avon three up, three down in the seventh.

The Shamrocks totaled five hits, one each from Jake Russell, Law, Wilson, Hoffman and Lindsey. Luke Collingsworth pitched five innings for the win, striking out seven and allowing no hits.

Westfield is 7-6 in conference play and 18-8 overall. The ‘Rocks travel to Avon this evening for a 6 p.m. game that will finish their HCC and regular seasons.

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Carmel lost to Cathedral 12-2 in a six-inning game Wednesday at Hartman Field.

The game was switched from the Irish’s field due to weather, so Cathedral played as the home team. The Irish led 7-0 after two innings. The Greyhounds scored both of their runs in the fourth inning, when Evan Vogt singled in Carson Mace and Parker Heaney.

Cathedral held Carmel to two hits; Jack Harris hit a double in the third inning. Ivan Dodd (1.1 innings) and Natham Koebcke (1.2 innings) both threw three strikeouts.

The Greyhounds are 16-8 and host their own invitational on Saturday. Carmel plays Harrison in its first game, which starts at 10 a.m.