Noblesville won a wild Hoosier Crossroads Conference game at Fishers on Thursday, finally prevailing 12-11 to improve its HCC record to 3-0.
The Tigers scored first, with Nick Lukac and Tristan Baker both getting home on an error in the bottom of the first inning. The Millers got those runs back in the top of the second, when Ethan Imel’s left field double sent Brady Walden and Zach Gruver home, tying the game at 2-2.
Fishers roared back in the third inning, scoring four runs. Lukac and JJ Woolwine both drew walks, and were both scored when Kiel Brenczewski smashed a three-run home run into center field. Later, Dominic Oliverio singled in Kaid Muth, putting the Tigers up 6-2.
But Noblesville tied it up again in the top of the fourth. Matt Peek led off the inning with a double, then scored right away when Cade Nelis delivered a double of his own. Gruver drew a walk, then Ethan Imel came up and hit a left field homer, tying the game at 6-6.
The Millers added six more runs in the fifth inning. Cooper Miles and DJ Owens started the inning with back-to-back singles, and both were doubled home by Nelis, putting Noblesville in the lead for the first time. Nelis scored on a passed ball, then Lucas Williams doubled home Walden and Jackson Hancock. Williams scored when Cole Barnes reached on error.
The Tigers cut the Millers’ lead to 12-9 with three runs in the fifth inning. Michael Hart scored when Charlie Walker drew a bases-loaded walk. Oliverio scored on Lukac’s RBI fielder’s choice, then Whetsel’s RBI groundout got Jack Braun home.
Fishers added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth: Owens doubled in Brenczewski, and Muth got home when Braun reached on error. The Tigers were within 12-11, but would get no closer. Peek pitched a perfect seventh inning for Noblesville, including two strikeouts.
Imel finished the game 3-for-4 and totaled six RBIs. Nelis and Williams both had two hits. Ethan Leslie got the pitching win for the Millers.
As for the Tigers, Brenczewski was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate. Oliverio and Braun each had two hits.
The series continues between Noblesville and Fishers at 6 p.m. tonight at the Millers’ Don Dunker Field.
Noblesville 12, Fishers 11
Noblesville AB R H RBI
Cole Barnes 4 0 0 0
Cooper Miles 4 1 1 0
DJ Owens 4 1 1 0
Matt Peek 4 1 1 0
Cade Nelis 4 2 2 3
Brady Walden 3 2 1 0
Zach Gruver 3 2 1 0
Ethan Imel 4 1 3 6
Lucas Williams 3 1 2 2
Jackson Hancock 0 1 0 0
Totals 33 12 12 11
HR: Imel. 2B: Nelis 2, Imel, Peek, Williams. SB: Hancock.
Noblesville pitching IP R ER H
Camden Nagel 2.1 5 3 3
Ethan Leslie (W) 2.2 5 5 5
Miles 0.0 1 0 1
Peek 2.0 0 0 0
Strikeouts: Leslie 3, Peek 2, Nagel 1. Walks: Leslie 5, Nagel 3, Miles 1.
Fishers AB R H RBI
Nick Lukac 3 2 0 1
Grant Whetsel 4 0 0 1
JJ Woolwine 3 1 0 0
Kiel Brenczewski 3 2 3 3
Kaid Muth 2 2 0 0
Daniel Owens 3 0 1 1
Dominic Oliverio 3 1 2 1
Jack Braun 4 1 2 0
Charlie Walker 3 0 0 1
Tristan Baker 0 1 0 0
Michael Hart 0 1 0 0
Totals 28 11 8 8
HR: Brenczewski. 2B: Brenczewski, Owens. SB: Lukac, Muth, Woolwine. SAC: Whetsel.
Fishers pitching IP R ER H
Jon Vore 4.0 8 7 8
Baker 0.1 1 0 1
Owens 2.2 3 0 3
Strikeouts: Owens 3, Baker 1. Walks: Vore 1, Owens 1.
Score by innings
Noblesville 020 460 0 – 12 12 5
Fishers 204 032 0 – 11 8 1
Noblesville’s Ethan Imel (center) is congratulated by Zach Gruver (left) and Cade Nelis (4) after hitting a three-run home run during the Millers’ Hoosier Crossroads Conference game with Fishers on Thursday. Gruver and Nelis were scored by Imel’s homer. Noblesville won the game 12-11, improving to 3-0 in the HCC. (Kent Graham)
Fishers players greet Kiel Brenczewski after he hit a home run. (Kent Graham)