Softball roundup: Hounds blast Panthers, Millers still perfect

The REPORTER

Carmel cruised to a 15-1, five-inning victory at North Central on Tuesday.

Jayden Kleiner had a perfect night, going 4-for-4 at the plate. Kleiner’s total included three doubles and a third-inning home run. Riley Petrites smacked a two-run homer right before Kleiner hit hers.

Kleiner totaled three RBIs and two runs scored. Winni Owens also had a flawless night, hitting 3-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Petrites also totaled two RBIs and two runs scored. Chloe Junkersfield had two hits, while Keira Libel and Avery Klein both had two hits; Libel also scored two runs.

Chelsea Bennett got the pitching win.

Carmel is 7-6 and hosts Pendleton Heights this afternoon.

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Noblesville roared back to keep its record undefeated on Tuesday, scoring five runs in the seventh inning to win 8-7 at Franklin Central in its Hoosier Crossroads Conference opener.

The Millers’ Maggie Kern led off the second inning with a home run to start the scoring. The Flashes scored three runs in the bottom of the second and added another run in the third for a 4-1 lead.

Blythe Walker doubled in Izzy Zapp for a Noblesville run in the top of the fifth inning, but Franklin Central scored two in the bottom of the inning, pushing the host school ahead 6-2. The two teams traded leadoff homers in the sixth inning; Kern hit her second HR of the game.

The Millers trailed 7-3 going into the seventh inning before making their move. Zapp got on base with a double, then was doubled home by Walker. Haley Schatko cracked a double into center field to score Walker. Noblesville loaded the bases, then Lilly Brown drew a walk to score Savannah Decker, getting the Millers within 7-6.

Kinley Westbrook batted in the tying and go-ahead runs, as her center field single scored Kate Ringholz and Reese Newsom. Noblesville then took care of the Flashes 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh. Addison Retzinger struck out the first two batters, then induced a flyout for the third out.

Zapp and Walker both hit two doubles. Retzinger pitched a complete game, striking out nine.

Noblesville is 6-0 and plays at the Carmel Invitational this weekend.

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Hamilton Southeastern dropped an HCC contest 8-5 at Avon Tuesday.

The Class 4A No. 4 Royals scored the game’s first run. Carly McCall drew a bases-loaded walk in the first inning to score Addy Richmond.

The Orioles took the lead with two runs in the bottom of the first inning, then hit an RBI single in the third inning for a 3-1 advantage. Three fourth-inning runs put Avon ahead 6-1.

Richmond smacked a two-run home run in the fifth inning, also scoring Lilly Palmer. Kaleah McCarter scored on McCall’s RBI groundout, and Southeastern was within 6-4.

But Avon hit back-to-back homers in the fifth inning, increasing its lead to 8-4. Sophia Feher doubled in Madison Burlingame in the seventh inning for the game’s final run.

The Royals are 1-1 in conference play and 8-5 overall. Southeastern’s next game is Thursday at Lawrence North.