Baseball: Millers blank Royals for HCC series sweep

The REPORTER

Friday night’s second game of the series turned out to be a continuation of Thursday night’s opener with the Royals and Millers.

Noblesville took off right from where they left. Lucas Stephan took the mound for the start against Josh Lesniewski. The Millers shut out the host Royals 10-0 to sweep the two-game series.

The Millers got their bats going in the top of the second. Aiden Ramsey and McCoy Fulk led off with consecutive singles. Sam Deno got on with a one-out base hit to load the bases. Brady Bishop broke the scoreless tie, grounding into a fielder’s choice, scoring Ramsey. Fulk went home on an error for the 2-0 lead.

Fulk would get his second hit with one out in the fourth. He would score for a 3-0 count when Deno reached on an error by Colin Goley at short.

Bishop bunted to lead off the fifth and reached on a throwing error. Trevor Corbett singled on the ground to left to move him over. Aiden Reynolds walked to load the bases. That brought Dylan Cope out of the bullpen for the Royals.

Noblesville scored four in the inning to take a 7-0 advantage. They would plate three more in the top of the seventh to help cement the double-digit shutout.

McCoy Fulk continued his hot night at the plate, grounding out to short and driving in Nolan Decker. The three-run frame would be capped off with a two-run double by Sam Deno to give the Millers the win.

Alex Billman and Parker O’Steen had the only two hits for HSE. Lesniewski took the loss, going four innings with three strikeouts, five hits and five runs (three earned).

Lucas Stephan got the win on the mound, striking out eight in six innings. The senior only gave up two hits and walked three. Josh Peek pitched a perfect seventh, striking out the side for three K’s.

Fulk led with a 3-for-4 night, driving in two and also scored twice. Deno, Trevor Corbett and Aiden Ramsey all went 2-of-4. Deno and Brady Bishop both had two RBI’s.

Hamilton Southeastern (8-12, 3-7 HCC) dropped its third in a row and sixth of their last seven. The Royals hit the road today for an all-county game at Hamilton Heights (10-8) at 11 a.m.

Noblesville (16-3, 8-0 HCC) has won six in a row and 11 of their last 12. The Millers host the Avon Orioles (12-7, 4-4 HCC) today in a doubleheader at Dunker Field starting at noon.

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Last night’s non-conference meeting with Western Boone was one that helped get Hamilton Heights back on the winning track.

The Huskies made their presence known in the first four innings on their way to an 8-0 blanking of the Western Boone Stars.

In the bottom of the first, Heights put their first run on the board. After Dean Mason reached on an error, he would score on a ground out by John Irion for the 1-0 lead.

Logan Hickman led the home half of the second off with a base hit. He would score on an error by the Stars’ catcher to go up 2-0.

Kyle Michael and Mason started off the third by both getting hit by pitches. Nick Hulen laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Michael and Mason to second and third. They both scored on a Dillon Pitts double to right for a 4-0 Husky advantage.

Kaden Lawson came in to courtesy run for Adam Hughes. Lawson scored on an error by the WeBo pitcher to make it 5-0.

Irion finished off the dominant night at the plate for Heights. The senior doubled to right field, clearing the bases to score Hulen, freshman PJ Wright and Dean Mason.

Owen Robey was 2-for-2, while Hickman, Pitts and Irion had the other three hits. Irion had four RBIs and Pitts two.

Lawson (2-0) grabbed the win, striking out five in three innings while not giving up a hit. The Stars managed just one hit.

Hamilton Heights (10-8) snapped its two-game losing skid and will host Hamilton Southeastern (8-12) today at 11 a.m. in an all-county matchup.

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Fishers rallied in the seventh inning to win 4-2 Friday at New Palestine.

The Tigers scored a run in the third inning, with Mayo Fernandez getting home on Ben Hammond’s RBI fielder’s choice. The Dragons tied the game in the fifth inning, then added a sixth inning run to lead 2-1.

Caulin Brown sent a one-out hit to center field, bringing in Jase Ruggles to tie the game. Fernandez drew a walk, then Deagan Repp smacked a right field double to score Brown and Fernandez.

Fernandez was 2-for-2 at the plate. Owen Sanders got the pitching win. It was the 300^th career victory for Tigers head coach Matthew Cherry.

Fishers is 16-7 and hosts Yorktown on Monday.