THE REPORTER
After taking the first game of the series on Wednesday, it was all business as the Millers headed to Boone County to face Zionsville.
The two were scoreless for the first few innings and then Noblesville’s offense cut loose en route to an 11-1 dominating road win over the Eagles, giving the Millers their first outright HCC championship since 2014. They were co-champs in 2016.
Jacob Edwards lined a single to center in the top of the fourth to drive in Jack Shade for a 1-0 lead for the Millers.
Zionsville tied it up 1-1 in the home half of the fourth with Max Bond sent a base hit to left, scoring Elliott Peter.
After that, it was all Millers and they kept their foot on the gas.
Hunter Corbett led off the fifth with a single to left and would move to second on a ground ball single by sophomore brother Trevor. Aiden Reynolds next reached on an error by pitcher Wrigley Bumgardner to load the bases. Bryce Riggs walked for a 2-1 score.
Nolan Decker would also reach on an error, this time by third baseman Elliot Peter. That allowed Trevor Corbett to make it home and it was 3-1.
Jack Shade sent a fly ball to center for a sacrifice, driving in Reynolds for 4-1. Aiden Ramsey made it 5-1, grounding into a double play, but courtesy runner Logan Shoffner made his way home on an error by Bond behind the plate.
Edwards walked to start the sixth. Sean McMahon came in to courtesy run. Blake Widget walked for two on. Tyler Utterback bunted into a fielder’s choice, forcing McMahon out at third.
Widget went home on an error by shortstop Josh Girvan.Trevor Corbett collected another hit, grounding to left, driving in Utterback for a 7-1 count.
Noblesville put the game completely out of reach with four more in the top of the seventh.
Decker, Shade and Ramsey lead off the seventh with consecutive walks. Then, Blake Widget took a 1-1 pitch for a ride on a deep extra-base hit to center for a bases-clearing triple, sending Decker, Shade and Ramsey around to score, pushing it to 10-1. Widget would score on a passed ball with two outs that produced the final score of 11-1.
Bryce Riggs sent the Eagles down in order in the bottom of the seventh to seal the game for the series sweep and the outright Hoosier Crossroads Conference championship.
Trevor Corbett connected for two of the five Miller hits, while Widget led all with three RBIs. Shade and Widget both scored twice.
Riggs had another solid performance on the mound, moving his season record to 7-0. The senior hurler struck out seven, gave up three hits and walked just one in his six frames of work.
Third-ranked Noblesville (20-6, 11-3 HCC) clinched its fourth HCC championship (2008, 2014) and first since 2016. The Millers finished one game ahead of Fishers (19-11, 10-4 HCC) in the league standings.
The Millers close out the regular season on the road at Lafayette Jeff (17-11) at Loeb Stadium tonight at 7 p.m.