Fishers clinched at least a share of the Hoosier Crossroads Conference championship with an 8-3 victory over Zionsville Friday in Game 2 of the series.
The win secured a series victory as the Tigers also won Game 1 Thursday night. The Tigers can win the HCC outright with a victory in Game 3 today.
Fishers’ bats came out swinging to start the game. For the second time this season, JJ Woolwine led off the game hitting the first pitch over the right field fence for a home run (his third home run of the season). Craig Yoho hit a line drive single on the very next pitch. Two outs later, Matthew Wolff scored Yoho from first with an RBI double past the right fielder. Two pitches later, Alex Jamieson scored Wolff with his own RBI double past the left fielder to give the Tigers a 3-0 lead.
After one out in the second inning, the Tiger’s hot bats continued where they left off in the first. Back-to-back-to-back singles from Ben Burton, Woolwine, and Yoho loaded the bases. Kiel Brenczewski delivered a two-out, two-run single to extend the lead to 5-0. Brenczewski’s two RBIs set a new school record for RBIs in a season (33) breaking the previous record of 31 shared by Matt Woolwine (’12) and Ray Calloway (’09).
Fishers added two insurance runs in the fifth and another in the seventh. Brenczewski led off the fifth with his second hit of the day. Courtesy runner Tristan Baker would later score when Jamieson grounded into a double play. Nick Lukac sparked another two-out run when he singled and later scored on Burton’s RBI single to left. Woolwine’s RBI single to left scored pinch runner Grant Whetsel in the seventh.
The five runs in the first two innings is all starting pitcher Jon Vore (2-1) would need. Vore was brilliant on the mound only allowing three base runners in the first five innings. The Tiger defense played great behind him. Of the 16 outs recorded while Vore was on the mound, eight came from groundballs, five from fly balls, and three on strikeouts. Vore pitched 5.1 innings allowing only two earned runs on four hits with three strikeouts and one walk. Alex Klotz came on in relief of Vore and worked out of a bases loaded jam in the sixth with a pop-up and groundout. With rain pouring down, Klotz battled through the conditions in the seventh to secure the victory for the Tigers.
The final game of the Zionsville series and final game of the regular season is scheduled for noon today at Tiger Field. The Tigers (22-7, 14-3) will honor their 11 seniors before the start of their final home game.
‘Hounds beat Park Tudor in Greyhound Invitational opener
Carmel won an abbreviated game with Park Tudor Friday night in the first round of the Greyhound Invitational, which is being played at Grand Park.
Carmel won 7-0 in five innings. The ‘Hounds scored one run each in the second and third innings: Evan Petruzzi got the first run after Jackson Adams reached on error, then Drew Harding scored on a balk.
In the fourth inning, Carmel scored five runs. Drew Olssen doubled in Robbie Levine, then would later steal home. Alex Brooks’ center field hit got JD Rogers home. Harding came in to run for Brooks, and was tripled in by Tanner Simmons. Cade Kantz was sent to third to run for Simmons, and he was sent home on Evan Petruzzi’s single.
Brooks and Petruzzi were both 2-for-2 at the plate. Levine also hit a double. Brooks pitched the win, allowing just one hit in four innings. Zach Vogt got the save.
The Greyhounds are 12-13 and play Guerin Catholic at 10:30 a.m. today. The Golden Eagles were rained out in their Friday night game with Westfield with the Shamrocks leading 8-3 in the fourth inning.
Sam Eaton and Kyle Pepiot both had two hits for the ‘Rocks, with Matthew Meyer cracking a home run, and Zach Collins and Eaton both hitting triples. Westfield will play Park Tudor at 10:30 a.m. today and Carmel at 1 p.m.
Royals win at Brownsburg
Hamilton Southeastern won the second game of its Hoosier Crossroads Conference series with Brownsburg 2-1 Friday at the Bulldogs’ field.
The Royals scored their first run in the second inning, when Cole DeWael’s center field hit scored Jacob Daftari. In the third inning, Jack Dewolf hit a left field double to send Anthony Eggers home.
Greyson Droste and DeWael both went 2-for-3 at the plate. Sam Bachman pitched six innings for the win, tossing five strikeouts.
Southeastern was to play a doubleheader Friday night, but the second game was rained out. It will not be made up. As a result, the Royals will finish with a 4-13 record in the HCC and the regular season at 12-15. HSE will play Carmel Wednesday in the first game of the Noblesville sectional at Don Dunker Field.
‘Blazers clinch perfect PAAC season
University clinched an undefeated Pioneer Conference championship Friday by beating Shortridge 13-1 in five innings.
The Trailblazers led 3-0 after two innings, then poured in 10 runs in the third. Ryan Williams and Will Spence both batted in three runs, all of them in the third inning.
Williams and Spence both had two hits, as did Dawson Estep and Garrett Hill. Estep hit an RBI triple in the third inning, while Hill and Spence both hit one double. Estep, Hill, Tyler Galyean, Kolton Stevens and Williams all scored two runs.
Spence pitched all five innings, striking out 10 and allowing only two hits.
University finished PAAC play 7-0 and is 22-5 overall. The ‘Blazers host Scecina on Monday for their regular-season finale.