By CRAIG ADKINS
NOBLESVILLE – When the up and down weather plays its own game with your schedule, just keep playing and eventually games will be made up, especially conference games.
This was the case with the second game of the HCC series with Hamilton Southeastern and Noblesville. Originally this game was to be played over a week ago. That didn’t matter the least bit, as the host Millers were able to put together an early afternoon shutout of the Royals at Dunker Field, 5-0.
The Millers got their bats going early in this midday battle on their home field.
Trevor Corbett led off the home half of the first with a 1-0 single to left. Two hitters later, Luke Wilson walked on four pitches. Connor Bloss then smacked a double to the fence in left center that scored both Corbett and Wilson to put Noblesville up 2-0.
Josh Kern was called upon for the start and he did not disappoint. The senior right-hander had complete control on the mound, scattering just five hits, hitting one batter and walking none, while striking out four.
“Well, we always knew he could throw. It was just finding the right situation. There have been times we’ve needed him and couldn’t get him in, because he was at first base,” said Noblesville head coach Justin Keever on Miller starting pitcher Josh Kern.
Kern was able to help his own cause in the bottom of the fourth. He took a 2-2 pitch deep to left for a solo home run, the first of the season and his career, pushing the Miller lead to 3-0.
The senior righty showed he’s got what it takes to start. Prior to Saturday’s complete game shutout, he had seen just two total innings out of the bullpen.
“I wanted to see what Kern could do as a start and give us some more innings. We just haven’t used him enough this year, quite frankly,” stated Keever on Kern’s start.
“This is what we’ve expected out of him and he did a nice job. He threw a lot of strikes, located well, defense behind him and our bats today were better, too,” continued Keever of Kern and his team’s defensive effort to keep the Royals scoreless.
As Kern was doing his due diligence on the mound, his defense had his back throughout. Nine of the outs were in the air, five ground outs and he also struck out four.
Noblesville was able to get some insurance runs on the board to secure the win.
Drew Niswonger singled to right to lead off the last of the fifth. He advanced to second on a wild pitch and then stole third. He would then add another run on a sacrifice fly to left off of the bat of Nolan Decker.
Wilson walked for the third time in his three plate appearances. He would also score on a double down the right field line by Bryce Riggs for a 5-0 score that would wind up the final.
Kern would allow just two on base over the final couple of innings, but a single and Eli Miller hit by a pitch were not enough for Hamilton Southeastern to get a rally going.
Cole Earlewine led the Royals going 2-for-3, but he never advanced beyond first base on those two singles. Ty Bradle (0-3) took the loss for HSE, only going two frames.
Hamilton Southeastern (8-16, 1-11 HCC) dropped its third game in the last five. The Royals will host 10th-ranked Columbus North (16-4-1) on Tuesday.
Kern’s (2-0) complete game shutout with four strikeouts, along with his solo home run, were a couple of the highlights for the Millers. Bloss’ two-run double, Wilson’s two runs scored and Decker hitting a sacrifice fly all proved pivotal in the Noblesville victory.
Noblesville (12-11, 7-5 HCC) ended its two-game losing streak with the win. The Millers will host Guerin Catholic (17-6) on Monday for Senior Night.
NOBLESVILLE 5, HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 0
Southeastern AB R H RBI
Landon Riekhof 3 0 1 0
Ty Bradle 3 0 1 0
Cole Earlewine 3 0 2 0
Eli Miller 2 0 0 0
Christian Beal 0 0 0 0
Michael Hoog 3 0 0 0
Chugga Rosario 3 0 1 0
Maddux Bach 3 0 0 0
Ian Bucher 1 0 0 0
Griffen Haas 1 0 0 0
Colin St. Clair 0 0 0 0
Zach Wagner 1 0 0 0
Hunter Wright 3 0 0 0
Totals 26 0 5 0
HBP: Beal.
HSE pitching IP R ER H
Bradle 2 2 2 2
Haas 3 3 3 3
St. Clair 1 0 0 0
Strikeouts: Haas 5, St. Clair 2, Bradle 1. Walks: Bradle 2, Haas 2.
Noblesville AB R H RBI
Trevor Corbett 3 1 1 0
Nolan Decker 2 0 0 1
Luke Wilson 0 2 0 0
Bryce Riggs 3 0 1 1
Aidan Shoemaker 0 0 0 0
Conner Bloss 3 0 1 2
Josh Kern 3 1 1 1
Jacob Edwards 3 0 0 0
Kolby Kazmierski 2 0 0 0
Drew Niswonger 2 1 1 0
Totals 21 5 5 5
HR: Kern. 2B: Bloss, Riggs. SB: Niswonger, Wilson. SAC: Decker.
NHS pitching IP R ER H
Kern 7 0 0 5
Strikeouts: Kern 4. Walks: Kern 1.
Score by Innings
Southeastern 000 000 0 – 0 5 1
Noblesville 200 120 x – 5 5 1