Baseball roundup: Tigers hold off Flashes, keep pace in HCC

The REPORTER

A fast start helped Fishers to an Hoosier Crossroads Conference win at Franklin Central on Friday, May 15, by the score of 5-4.

Carter Strole provided that opening spark for the Tigers, smacking a three-run home run in the first inning that also scored Ethan Buelt and Owen Lukac. Fishers scored two more runs in the third inning: Vincent Pecoraro singled in Lukac and Asher Nelson batted in Strole.

The Flashes scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning, then added one run each in the sixth and seventh innings, but the Tigers turned a double play in the seventh to end the game.

Nelson, Lukac and Buelt all hit one double. Nelson was 3-for-4 at the plate. Austin Conley struck out eight in 5.1 innings for the win.

On Saturday, May 16, Fishers sailed past Lawrence North 15-1 in a five-inning home game. Strole knocked a three-run homer in the second inning, with David Pina and Buelt both hitting doubles. Pina and Andrew Baldini both had two hits.

Strole, Henry Cherry and Baldini all scored three runs, with Pina driving in three runs. Lukac pitched all five innings, tossing nine strikeouts.

The Tigers are tied for second in the conference with Westfield; both schools are 8-4. Fishers is 14-12 overall and continues HCC play Wednesday by hosting Brownsburg.

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Guerin Catholic won both of its games at the Silver Creek Invitational on Saturday, May 16.

The Golden Eagles first beat the host Dragons 9-3. Karson Smith got Guerin Catholic on the board in the first inning with a two-out double to score Ian Taylor and Nolan Ratcliff.

Carson Kail hit his own RBI double to bring in Taylor, giving the Golden Eagles a 3-0 lead. Guerin Catholic kept rolling in the fourth inning: Grant Beard led off with a double and scored on Luke Gremelspacher’s single. GC loaded the bases and Gremelspacher scored after Ben Canada drew a walk.

Taylor then drew a walk, bringing in Liam Zorger to give the Golden Eagles a 6-0 lead. Kail smacked a single to send Ratcliff and Canada home and put Guerin Catholic up 8-0.

Silver Creek scored two runs in the fourth inning and one in the fifth. Beard singled in Smith for a sixth-inning run.

Ratcliff was 3-for-4 at the plate. Tate Troxell pitched five innings for the win, striking out eight.

The Golden Eagles beat Evansville North 1-0 in its second game. Beard hit a home run in the seventh inning for the contest’s only run.

Guerin Catholic was held to two hits; Smith hit a single. Harrison Haq went six innings and struck out seven, with Ben Aho throwing the seventh inning. The Golden Eagles held the Huskies to four hits.

Guerin Catholic is 20-3-1 and hosts Hamilton Heights on Thursday.

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Hamilton Heights won its Hoosier Conference playoff game with Benton Central 4-1 on Friday, May 15.

The visiting Bison scored a run in the top of the third inning, but the Huskies came back by putting up three runs in the bottom of the inning. AJ Flanagan led off the inning with a double, then was batted in by PJ Wright. Dillon Pitts doubled Wright home for the go-ahead run. Tyson Upchurch came in to run for Pitts and he was singled home by Cy Mason.

Heights scored its fourth run in the fifth inning. The Huskies loaded the bases and Mason scored when Chase Hall was walked.

Mason was 3-for-4 at the plate, while Flanagan had two hits. Pitts pitched a complete game, striking out eight.

Heights is 7-13 and play this afternoon at Kokomo.