Millers claim outright HCC softball championship

By CRAIG ADKINS

For The Reporter

Thursday night’s Senior Night at Miller Park became that much sweeter for the Noblesville softball team. Head coach Deke Bullard claimed his first Hoosier Crossroads Conference championship and the program’s fifth HCC title overall (2004, 2009, 2010 and 2011). The Millers were also outright winners in 2004 and 2011 and shared the title in 2009 and 2010.

The Millers took down a feisty Avon squad in an 11-5 decision to become HCC champions. Hamilton Southeastern knocked off Franklin Central for both to finish at 5-2, leaving Noblesville all alone atop with a 6-1 league record for the outright crown.

Avon scored twice in the top of the first, but that just fueled Noblesville. The Miller bats took off in the bottom. Izzy Zapp led off with a solo home run, her sixth of the season, to cut it to 2-1. Reese Newsom singled to left and Haley Schatko doubled to left for runners at second and third. After Newsom got caught stealing second, Schatko scored on a base hit by Lily Brown, tying it 2-2.

The Orioles scored two more in the second to go up 4-2. Allie Thompson homered with one out to trim the deficit to 4-3.

Noblesville took the lead for good in the home half of the third. Thompson did it again. This time, she hit a bases-clearing double to center for a 6-4 advantage.

Roslyn Ervin hit her first long ball of the year to drive in herself and Thompson for an 8-4 score. Schatko joined the home run party with her 14th dinger and a 10-4 count.

Maggie Kern made it 11-4 on an RBI double in the bottom of the sixth. Avon scored one in the top of the seventh, but their comeback fell short, making the Millers conference champs.

Addison Retzinger (11-3) struck out five in a complete game. Thompson drove in four, along with Schatko and Ervin each driving in a pair to lead the offense.

Noblesville (18-6) drew the second bye in Class 4A Sectional 8 at Zionsville and will play the Hamilton Southeastern (17-4)/Fishers (15-9) winner in the second semifinal on May 26 at 7:30 p.m.