HEAD: Carmel outlasts Zionsville, Noblesville edges Fishers to set up semifinal clash
By CRAIG ADKINS
For The Reporter
CARMEL – For the first time since 2009, Carmel’s Hartman Field is playing host to the Class 4A Sectional 8 baseball tournament. Carmel won its sectional opener over Zionsville 6-4 on Wednesday.
The host Greyhounds got things started in the top of the second when Cam Carmichael led off with a single to center. Case Sullivan followed suit with a grounder for two on. Carmichael would score on a fielder’s choice by Drew Fouts to grab an early 1-0 edge.
Zionsville answered with a rally with two down in the home half of the third. Wrigley Bumgardner was hit by a Gabe Mathison pitch and would soon after score on an RBI double from Riley Agbonhese to knot the game 1-1.
The two kept each other in check for the next few innings.
Carmel broke the tie in the top of the eighth. Tripp Schroeder led off with a single on the ground to right. Carmichael then walked for two on. Courtesy runner Carson Mace moved to third and Carmichael to second on a bunt single from Case Sullivan with nobody covering first base.
Designated hitter James Charland walked, scoring Mace to give Carmel the lead 2-1.
Tyler Walkey pushed the Greyhound lead to 4-1 with a two-run double in the right center gap, scoring Carmichael and Sullivan.
The gap widened to 6-1 with a two-run double to the wall in left by JD Stein, plating Walkey and Mathison.
The Eagles got their shot in the bottom of the eighth and made the most of it, but couldn’t quite overcome the five-run deficit.
Riley Agbonhese singled on the first pitch he saw. Two were aboard quickly when Easton Moore was hit in the helmet by reliever Adam Buszkowski.
Elliott Peter’s base hit to shallow right center loaded the bags. After Nash Wagner lined out to Sullivan at short, Josh Girvan walked to make it 6-2, sending Agbonhese home.
Zionsville closed the deficit when Max Bond reached on an error by Sullivan, airmailing Gabe Mathison at first, scoring Peter and and Girvan for what became the final count of 6-4. Buczkowski struck out Jackson Tielker swinging to end the game.
The Zionsville Eagles’ season comes to an end at 18-11.
Carmel (20-8) advances to the first semifinal on Saturday and will play Noblesville on Saturday at 11 a.m.
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The second matchup of the night pitted Hoosier Crossroads Conference rivals Fishers and Noblesville for the third time this season. The Tigers and Millers split their season series 1-1.
Wednesday’s game would be another tight battle that had the packed house at Hartman Field on the edge of their seats, and Noblesville would emerge victorious over Fishers 3-1.
The Millers struck first in the bottom of the fourth. Aiden Reynolds reached on an infield single that bounced over the head of pitcher Jack Brown.
Bryce Riggs drilled a base hit that moved Reynolds to second with no outs. Nolan Decker doubled to left to score Reynolds. Jack Shade then hit a sacrifice fly to center, sending courtesy runner Logan Shoffner home for a 2-0 advantage.
Fishers got on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth, but it wouldn’t be easy as Riggs was in a zone on the mound, striking out nine through four.
Evan Doran reached on an error by Reynolds at short. After a Brevin Barker pop-out to Riggs, Noah McPeek doubled to right, scoring Doran to cut the Miller lead to 2-1.
Blake Widget led off the home half of the fifth with an infield single. Hunter Corbett laid down a sacrifice bunt to Brown at the mound for the first out, moving pinch runner Conner Seago to second. Seago soon after scored on a passed ball to put Noblesville up 3-1 through five innings.
Jack Brown (6-1) took his first defeat of the season. The junior struck out six Millers, giving up five hits
Riggs (8-0) wound up with a tremendous night on the hill, striking out 14 Tigers. He also gave up just four hits and walked three.
Lucas Stephan came on in the top of the seventh for the save.
Fishers ends its season at 19-12.
Noblesville (22-6) moves on to the semifinal on Saturday against Carmel (20-8) at 11 a.m.