Millers set new school record in win over Carmel
By RICHIE HALL
NOBLESVILLE – Preparation can pay off in sports, an idea that the Noblesville softball team put into practice on Wednesday.
It turns out preparation can put a team’s name in the record books, which is something the Millers did during their 12-2, five-inning home victory over Carmel.
Noblesville smacked seven home runs during the game, setting a new record for most homers in a single contest. Haley Schatko hit two home runs, while five other Millers players hit one.
“I don’t think it was any indication of that Carmel team,” said Noblesville coach Deke Bullard. “I think they’re a good team. I think we just got the upper hand tonight and we had a significant wind helping us.”
The Millers improved their record to 3-0 with the win. Noblesville played two games before Spring Break and were scheduled to take on Fishers Tuesday, but that contest was rained out.
Schatko
“We were just hungry,” said Schatko. “Since we haven’t played in so long, it was just really good to come together as a team.”
The Millers hadn’t played a game since April 2, but they weren’t idle during Spring Break.
“We took the time during Spring Break to come here and get extra reps,” said Schatko. “Nobody took reps off. Everybody was doing their best to make sure we were prepared for this game.
“I came here at least four or five times. And I’m proud that everybody wanted it just as much as I did.”
The Greyhounds actually got the first home run of the game. Jayden Kleiner cracked a one-out solo homer during the top of the first inning.
Schatko tied the game with her first home run with two outs in the bottom of the first. Maggie Kern got base with a single, then Reese Newsom blasted a center field to put Noblesville up 3-1.
Lilly Brown, one of three freshman on the Millers’ varsity roster, led off the second with a homer, then Izzy Zapp sent one over the center field fence minutes later, moving Noblesville ahead 5-1.
Carmel added a run in the top of the fourth when Winni Owens got home on Emily Proctor’s RBI groundout. Owens had led off the inning with a double.
The Hounds were within 5-2, but the Millers struck again in the bottom of the fourth. Schatko blasted her second homer with two outs, also scoring Bella Hughes. Kern was next, and she sent a home run over the center field fence.
Addy Retzinger, who got the pitching win for Noblesville, added her name to the homer parade by leading off the fifth with a long ball to center field.
Brown was next, and she got on base with a double. Freshman Kate Ringholz came in to run for Brown, and scored on a Kinley Westbrook single. Zadie Brown, also a freshman, came in to run for Westbrook and was sent home by a Zapp single. Newsom hit a sacrifice fly to score Zapp and end the game on the 10-run rule.
Kern finished the game 3-for-4 at the plate. Retzinger pitched all five innings, tossing five strikeouts.
“We had some hard hits tonight right at people, so we hit well tonight overall,” said Bullard.
Kleiner, Owens and Chloe Junkersfield all had one hit for Carmel.
Noblesville travels to Lawrence North on Friday, while the Greyhounds are 5-5 and host New Palestine on Friday.
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