The Noblesville baseball team took its annual spring break trip to Tennessee last week to face some of the best competition in the Midwest. The Millers were able to do something that they hadn’t done in any previous trip and that was coming away victorious against all four opponents.
Noblesville 10, Collierville (TN) 8
Thursday afternoon, the Millers got started against Tennessee’s fifth-ranked Colliersville Dragons at Riverdale High School.
The Dragons got on the board first on an error in the first for a 1-0 lead. Colliersville took command momentarily in the top of the third, to go up 5-0 on a single, fielder’s choice and a three-run home run.
Noblesville unleashed its bats over the next two innings. Jacob Edwards led off the bottom of the third with a solo HR. Three more base hits from Hunter and Trevor Corbett, and Aiden Reynolds that cut it to 5-3 through three.
The Millers tacked on a half dozen in the last of the fourth to jump out in front of the Dragons for good.
Highlighted by doubles from Nolan Decker, Edwards, Hunter Corbett and Reynolds to start the inning, Bryce Riggs topped it off with a two-run roundtripper, putting the Millers up 9-5.
The Millers staved off a late comeback effort from the previous one-loss Dragons to hold on for the win, 10-8.
Noblesville 17, Neuqua Valley 4 (5 innings)
The Miller offense took off right from where it left Thursday night, playing the Neuqua Valley Wildcats from Naperville, Ill.
Noblesville plated three runs in the top of the first to get going early. Riggs had an RBI-double, along with Reynolds and Josh Peek each driving in runs with singles for that 3-0 count.
The bases were loaded right away in the second with a leadoff walk from Hunter Corbett, Trevor Corbett fielder’s choice and Reynolds walk. These two runs came from the bat of Aiden Ramsey on a double to left, extending it to 5-0.
The third inning was even more favorable as the Millers scored 10. Those ten runs would be highlighted by seven walks, three singles, a double and fielder’s choice for a dominating 15-0 score.
Neuqua Valley was able to muster up four runs in the bottom of the fourth, but still trailed 15-4.
Two more runs would officially seal it for the Millers in the top of the fifth for the final score of 17-4.
Noblesville 10, Wilson Central (TN) 8
The third game of the trip would be the second game at Wilson Central, but this time against the host Wildcats in Lebanon, Tenn.
Scoring two runs in each of the second and third, the Millers grabbed an early 4-0 edge on the home team.
Wilson Central scored two in the third and another in the fourth to narrow it to 4-3.
Noblesville added another in the top of the sixth for a 5-3 score on a Bryce Riggs sacrifice fly that scored Logan Shoffner.
The Wildcats took the lead in the bottom of the sixth, sending five home to go up 8-5, looking to close it out in the seventh. The Millers had other plans.
Nolan Decker walked to lead off the seventh, followed by Blake Widget singling. Next, Jack Shade tripled a line drive to left, sending both Decker and Widget, cutting the Wildcat lead to 8-7.
Hunter Corbett singled to left, scoring Jacob Baker and tying the game 8-8.
Trevor Corbett got hit by a pitch. After that, Aiden Reynolds lined a base hit to left field, scoring Brady Bishop, giving the Millers a 9-8 lead.
Decker would walk again in the inning, scoring Trevor for what became the final score of 10-8.
Dylan Keever made his varsity debut, throwing 5.2 innings, striking out seven. Josh Peek got the win, going 1.1 innings, fanning three.
Noblesville 10, McCallie (TN) 0 (5 innings)
Game number four was one that would continue the Millers’ winning streak and in grand fashion at that.
Noblesville put Eastern Illinois commit Bryce Riggs on the hill and he didn’t disappoint at all. The senior hurler tossed a one-hit shutout on the way to the Millers blanking Tennessee’s reigning Division II-AA state champion McCallie Blue Tornado from Chattanooga, 10-0.
Oddly enough, the five-run bottom of the first came from four walks and Trevor Corbett again getting plunked for an early 5-0 lead for Noblesville.
The Millers finished off the shutout of the Blue Tornado with multiple extra base hits.
Josh Peek tripled to left and would score on a Jack Shade double to right to make it 6-0. Trevor Corbett also would double, sending Blake Widget and Conner Seago crossing home for an 8-0 lead.
After Aiden Reynolds walked, Landon Hughes reached on an error by the pitcher, allowing Reynolds to go home for 9-0. Then, on a wild pitch, Trevor Corbett advanced to third and scored to end the game in five innings, 10-0.
Trevor Corbett had three RBIs and Jack Shade two. Riggs threw a gem in five solid frames. He allowed just one hit and struck out four to secure the shutout.
Noblesville (4-1) heads home from the Volunteer state with four wins, something the Millers hadn’t done previously on their spring break trips.
The Millers start HCC play tonight when they hit the road at Avon for a 6 p.m. game. This will be the Orioles’ season opener.
Thursday is Noblesville’s home opener at The Dunk against Avon at 6 p.m.