Baseball: Noblesville sweeps Zionsville for outright HCC title

By CRAIG ADKINS

For The Reporter

NOBLESVILLE – After taking the first game Wednesday night in Boone County over the Eagles, 4-1, it was only fitting that the Millers clinched the outright championship Thursday at home at Dunker Field.

Noblesville got to Zionsville early and had a big inning that pushed them to an 8-4 victory and their third Hoosier Crossroads Conference championship in four seasons.

Zionsville scored in the top of the first for an early 1-0 lead, but that didn’t last long.

The Millers got a leadoff walk from Ethan Clark. Aiden Reynolds next reached on an error for runners at the corners. Reynolds advanced to second on a passed ball and then the bases were loaded from Zac Glander’s walk.

“We just needed to play good baseball,” said Noblesville head coach Justin Keever. “In the first inning, to give them credit, they got two hits and they got the runs that they earned.”

Slade Hodges grounded into a double play, but Ethan Clark scored to tie it 1-1.  Brooks Riggs then reached on an error at third base to plate Reynolds and it was 2-1.

“They gave us some runs in the bottom of the first, putting us on with some walks and an error,” continued Keever.

The home half of the third proved to produce a crooked number that chased starter Landon Ambs in the middle of the inning.

Clark got hit by a pitch and moved to third on a Reynolds double to left. Glander walked to load the bags again. Hodges lined a hit to left to score Clark to make it 3-1. Jalen Stidham walked to send Reynolds home. Garrett Dixon hit a sacrifice fly to left, sending Glander home to push it to 5-1.

Hodges scored on a wild pitch with Brooks Riggs up and then Stidham scored on Riggs’ hard grounder to first for a 7-1 advantage through three.

The Eagles made it 7-4 with one in the fifth and two in the sixth.

An insurance run scored when Glander laid down a sacrifice bunt that was an error, allowing Clark to score for a third time. Clark’s run made it 8-4.

“I thought, for the most part, we played some pretty good defense. Again, both Brooks (Riggs and Muse) were great on the mound. It was a good team effort,” Keever said.

Relief pitcher Brooks Muse pitched two solid innings. Muse trusted his defense behind him, which ended the game with a double play.

The dogpile ensued on the field immediately after in celebration of winning the HCC championship.

Brooks Riggs (3-1) had three K’s in five innings. He gave up four runs (two earned) to earn his third win on the mound.

“He’s just a competitor, loves baseball,” said Keever. “He’s a Riggs. All of his brothers are the same way, just a baller. He’s been playing great first base. He’s a bulldog on the mound, loves to compete and was just outstanding tonight.”

Clark, Stidham and Reynolds all hit doubles and the Millers capitalized on five Zionsville errors.

“This group continues to play for each other. We’re not perfect, but they do play for each other and they compete hard and they’re able to be outright champs and they deserve it,” Keever added.

Noblesville (19-9) will host 4A Sectional 8 at Dunker Field starting on May 27. The Millers play Zionsville (13-14) in the second game on Wednesday, following Hamilton Southeastern (19-9) and Carmel (9-14) that starts at 5:30 p.m.