Fishers started slow Thursday night, but exploded for 10 runs in the seventh inning to defeat the Brownsburg Bulldogs 12-2.
Starting pitcher Luke Albright pitched brilliantly for the Class 4A No. 3 Tigers earning a no decision while striking out 10 in five innings. Albright allowed three straight singles in the third inning for the Bulldogs’ only two runs of the night. He scattered two other hits giving up five total. Drew Hoffman (1-1) pitched two innings of relief for the victory. Hoffman struck out the side in the sixth inning leaving runners at first and second with the game tied at 2-2. Hoffman finished with four strikeouts.
Down 2-0 in the fifth inning, the Tigers scored two runs to tie the game. Jack Roudebush led off the inning with a walk. Pinch runner Grant Whetsel advanced to second on an errant pickoff throw by the Bulldog pitcher. Collin Shelton delivered a two-strike RBI single to score Whetsel. Shelton advance to second on the throw to the plate. After Ben Burton laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Shelton to third, Craig Yoho tied the game with an RBI double.
The score would remain tied at 2 until the Tigers big seventh inning. With one out in the seventh, Yoho walked and advanced to second on a balk. Kiel Brenczewski plated Yoho for the go-ahead run with an RBI double to make the score 3-2. After Matthew Wolff was hit by a pitch, Alex Jamieson delivered an RBI single to score Brenczewski. Daniel Owens reached on an infield single in front of Roudebush’s RBI walk with the bases loaded. Shelton once again provided fireworks hitting the first pitch for a line drive double to left centerfield to score courtesy runner Tristan Baker and Owens. Burton followed with a walk to load the bases, and JJ Woolwine picked up an RBI when he reached on an error with the bases loaded. Shelton would also score on error. Burton scored on a wild pitch, and Wolff delivered a two-run double to finish the scoring.
Wolff reached base all five times at the plate finishing with a 3-for-3 night, including two doubles, two RBIs, two hit by pitches, and a run scored. Shelton was 2-for-3 with a double, three RBIs, and two runs. Yoho and Jamieson both added two hits and an RBI.
The Tigers return home Friday night to host the Bulldogs in Game 2 of the series. First pitch is at 6 p.m.
‘Rocks beat Royals in series Game 1
Westfield took the opening game of a Hoosier Crossroads Conference series with Hamilton Southeastern on Thursday.
The Shamrocks won 3-2 at the Royals’ Ken Seitz Field. Westfield got on the board in the third inning when Logan McClurg hit a solo home run. The Royals answered right away in the bottom of the inning: TJ Jahanshahi’s double sent Cole Graverson home, then Cole DeWael’s RBI groundout scored Jahanshahi.
But the ‘Rocks got back on top with two runs in the fourth inning. Eli Patchett hit a single to center field, which sent Sam Eaton and Bryce Dorton home. That put Westfield up 4-3 and the score would stay there for the remainder of the game.
Matthew Robinson got the win for Westfield, pitching six innings and striking out nine. McClurg closed the game in the seventh inning. Neither Shamrock pitcher issued a walk.
“Matthew Robinson pitched a gem for us tonight,” said ‘Rocks coach Ryan Bunnell. “He had command of three pitches and worked down in the zone all night. His last outing was a tough one so he deserves a lot of credit for coming out and pitching like this tonight.
“Offensively, we had a tough task on our hands. Bachman was really good and I thought our kids did a good job of grinding out good at bats. We didn’t have a lot of hits, but we had good at bats and enough timely hitting. Eli Patchett had a great at bat to drive in the go ahead runs.”
Jahanshahi hit two doubles for the Royals. Sam Bachman started the game on the mound and pitched four and a third innings, striking out seven and allowing just three hits. Tyler Schweitzer threw the remaining two and two-thirds, allowing no hits while tossing five strikeouts.
The Shamrocks are 4-3 in the conference and 4-4 overall, while HSE is 1-6 in the conference and 4-8 overall. The series continues at 6 p.m. this evening at Westfield.
Millers fall to Zionsville to finish series
Noblesville finished a Hoosier Crossroads Conference series with Zionsville on Thursday, with the Eagles beating the Millers 12-7 at Don Dunker Field.
It was a back-and-forth game. Noblesville scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning: Tyler Owens got the first run after Kade Gorman reached on error. Owens begin the game with a double to get on base.
Zach Gruver came in to courtesy run for Gorman, and he was soon home, driven in by Jacob Thieman’s double to center field. Later, Camden Nelis hit a single into left field that scored Thieman and Cooper Miles.
Zionsville scored three times in the in the top of the second inning, but the Millers got the lead back up to 5-3 in the bottom of that inning. Mark Goudy hit a sacrifice fly to score Tyler Owens.
The Eagles would get runs in each of the next three innings and took an 8-5 lead midway through the fifth. Noblesville got one back in the bottom of that inning when DJ Owens singled in Zac Tuinei.
Zionsville scored four times in the seventh. The Millers got one more in that inning, with Thieman drawing a bases-loaded walk to get DJ Owens home.
Thieman and Nelis both finished the game with two RBIs.
Noblesville is 3-6 in the conference and 6-8 overall. The Millers will host McCutcheon at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Noblesville catcher Ethan Imel waits for the signal during the Millers’ game with Zionsville Thursday at Don Dunker Field. (Richie Hall)
Sheridan baseball falls to Taylor
Sheridan lost an 8-3 Hoosier Heartland Conference game at Taylor on Thursday.
The Titans scored a run in the bottom of the first inning. The Blackhawks answered in the top of the third, when Kyle Archer scored on an error to tie the game at 1-1. But Taylor poured in six runs in the bottom of the inning to take the lead for good.
Sheridan scored a fourth-inning run when Archer’s sacrifice fly got Cameron Hovey home. Hovey scored again in the sixth inning; he got on base with a triple and was singled in by Lane Leonard.
Archer and Leonard both finished the game with two hits.
The Blackhawks are 0-2 in the conference and 3-2 overall. Their next game will be Tuesday at Clinton Central, another HHC game.