THE REPORTER
The Westfield baseball team won a hard-fought game at Hamilton Southeastern’s Ken Seitz Field 10-6 on Friday, finishing a conference sweep.
The Shamrocks got their first run in the second inning when Matt Drozlek hit a home run. Westfield added four runs in the third inning: Ian Wilson led off with a single, and moved to second base on Caden Lindsey’s sacrifice bunt. Brayden Hibler’s base hit moved Wilson to third, and Wilson scored on Eli Manbeck’s center field hit. Collin Lindsey came up next, and he blasted a three-run homer to score Hibler and Manbeck.
The Royals scored three runs in the bottom of the third. Colin Goley led off with a double, then Maddux Bach was hit by a pitch. Ty Bradle hit a single to load the bases, then Cole Earlewine’s single sent Goley home. Nolan Colbert drew a walk to score Bach. Later, Harrison Dilts’ left field hit brought in Earlewine, and cut Westfield’s lead to 5-3.
But the ‘Rocks scored three runs in the top of the fourth to go back up 8-3. Wilson scored on an error, then Collin Lindsey sent a two-RBI hit into center field, scoring Caden Lindsey and Hibler.
Southeastern made another push in the fifth inning, putting up three more runs. Colbert scored on a wild pitch, then Alex Billman drew a walk to load the bases. Chugga Rosario drew another walk, scoring Griffen Haas. Later, Bradle was walked, and that sent Kam Seitz home.
The Royals were within 8-6, but Westfield added two runs in the top of the sixth to complete the scoring. Hibler got home on Collin Lindsey’s RBI fielder’s choice, and Evan Russ nailed a triple to right field to bring in Drew Law.
Collin Lindsey finished the game with six RBIs, while Hibler hit 3-for-4. Seth Nanna went four innings for the pitching win, tossing four strikeouts.
Haas and Dilts both had two hits for Southeastern. Brady Strawmeyer threw three and a third innings, striking out six.
The Shamrocks are 7-5 in conference play and 13-9 overall, and plays at Kokomo Monday. The Royals are 6-6 in the HCC and 11-13 overall, and play this morning at Beech Grove.
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Fishers powered its way to a 12-2, six-inning HCC win over Franklin Central on Friday, giving the Tigers a conference sweep.
Fishers scored one run in both the first and second innings. The Flashes tied the game in the top of the fourth, but the Tigers blasted through the bottom of the inning with six runs, starting with a two-run triple by Evan Doran. Four runs in the sixth inning finished the game; Doran got the game-ending run by going home on a wild pitch.
Caulin Brown was 3-for-4 at the plate, while Doran was 2-for-3 and totaled four RBIs. Jack Brown, Gavin Clayton, Ben Hammond and Doran all scored two runs, and Quinn Seefeldt hit a double. Gavin Kuzniewski pitched all six innings, striking out six.
The Tigers are 8-4 in the conference and 17-10 overall, and host Columbus North on Monday.
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Hamilton Heights used a tremendous sixth inning to win the Hoosier Conference third-place game, beating host Twin Lakes 8-6.
The Indians scored a run in the first inning, then both teams got one run in the second. Kyle Michael batted in the Huskies’ run, with a left field hit to bring in Adam Hughes.
Twin Lakes scored a third run in the bottom of the fourth, and the score stayed at 3-1 through the fifth inning. But Heights opened things up in the top of the sixth, starting with a two-run home run by Dean Mason. Kaleb Murray also scored. Just like that, the game was tied at 3-3.
Cooper Vondersaar and Hughes both singled, then Michael’s center field hit brought in Vondersaar. The Huskies now led 4-3. Later, John Irion sent a two-run RBI into center field, scoring Owen Beaumont and Logan Hickman. Irion got home when Dillon Pitts reached on error, then Pitts went home on a Murray double to make the score 8-3. The Indians scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth, but Heights let them get no closer.
Hughes and Irion both hit a double. Michael finished the game 3-for-4. Pitts got the pitching win, while Nick Hulen got the save.
The Huskies are 12-7 and host Kokomo Tuesday.
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Guerin Catholic cruised past Heritage Christian 10-1 in a Friday Circle City Conference game.
Heritage scored its run in the bottom of the first inning. The Golden Eagles tied the game in the third inning when Ian Taylor doubled in Will Fremion.
Guerin Catholic got going in the fourth inning with four runs. The Golden Eagles loaded the bases, then Cuinn Morrow drew a walk to bring in Sam Tabor. AJ Nunley was walked next, scoring Tate Troxell. Morrow and Nolan Ratcliff both got home on Fremion’s RBI fielder’s choice.
In the sixth inning, GC put up five more runs. Taylor singled in Nunley and Morrow, then Tabor’s left field hit brought Karson Smith and Taylor home. Guerin Catholic loaded the bases again, and Drew Wilhite scored when Morrow was hit by a pitch.
Taylor and Tabor both had two hits. Ryan Zimmerman threw a complete game, striking out five.
The Golden Eagles are 9-0 in conference play and 21-2 overall. Guerin Catholic hosts a doubleheader with Greenfield-Central this afternoon.
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University beat Cardinal Ritter 25-2 in five innings on Thursday.
Owen Schellhase was 3-for-4 at the plate, including a home run, and totaled seven RBIs. Mark Hamby was 2-for-2, hitting a double and a single and batting in four runs. Jimmy Caldwell hit a bases-loaded triple. Jake Hooker went three innings for the win, striking out six against one hit.
University is 12-10 for the season.
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Carmel split a pair of games over the past two days.
On Thursday, the Greyhounds sailed past host Harrison 9-2. Carmel started with two runs in the third inning: Gabe Mathison led off with a triple, then scored on a Hunter Snow single. JD Stein doubled in Snow.
Mathison cracked another triple in the third inning, which scored Drew Fouts. Snow’s double brought in Mathison, and Stein hit a sacrifice fly to score Case Sullivan.
Mathison batted in another run in the fifth inning, with a right field hit to send Tyler Walkey home. Stein added a sixth inning run when Kenny Bruntlett hit a sacrifice fly. In the seventh inning, Mathison struck again, with a two-run single to score Fouts and Cam Carmichael.
Mathison was perfect at the plate, going 4-for-4 and totaling four RBIs. Stein hit two doubles, and Walkey hit one. Snow went 3-for-4. Cameron Heaney pitched five innings for the win, striking out six.
On Friday, Carmel dropped a 5-4 game to Roncalli at Hartman Field. Mathison had two hits, while Carmichael and Tim Haas each hit one double. Dylan Zenor tossed five strikeouts in three innings of relief.
The Greyhounds are 12-7 and host Mount Vernon Monday.