HSE splits, Millers win in Tennessee

The REPORTER

The Hamilton Southeastern and Noblesville baseball teams finished play at the ETBCA Tournament in Knoxville, Tenn. last Saturday.

The Royals split their last two games at Knoxville to finish tournament play with a 3-1 record. Southeastern beat Lawrence County (Ky.) 8-2 and Independence (W. Va.) 10-9 in games last Friday.

In their first Saturday game, the Royals beat Portland (Tenn.) 17-1 in four innings. Southeastern never trailed, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning. Parker O’Steen hit an RBI double to score Clark Bucher, then Colin Kendrick singled in O’Steen.

Kendrick hit a three-run home run in the second inning, then Jackson Bixler scored when Trey McManama reached on error. HSE then put up 11 runs in the fourth inning, which included an RBI double from Braeden Totton. Maddux Bach hit a two-run single early in the inning.

Kendrick totaled four RBIs, while O’Steen scored four runs and batted in three. Bucher scored three runs. Josh Lesniewski pitched all four innings, striking out two against three hits and no walks.

Southeastern played Knoxville Halls in its second game, falling 7-6. The Royals scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning: Michael Hoog singled in Deacon Lewis, then advanced to third base on Kendrick’s double. Evan Burns sent both Hoog and Lewis home with a right field double.

Halls scored two runs in the top of the third inning, but HSE got one back in the bottom of the third when Kendrick batted in Lewis with a left field hit. The Royals added two runs in the sixth inning: Bixler singled in Bach, then Bucher sent Cy Cole home with a center field hit. Southeastern led 6-2, but Halls scored five runs in the top of the seventh inning and held on to win.

Kendrick had two hits, while O’Steen also hit a double. Dylan Cope threw five innings, striking out five.

The Royals are 3-2 for the season and host Brownsburg Thursday to begin Hoosier Crossroads Conference play.

***

Noblesville finished play in Knoxville with a victory, beating Eagleville (Tenn.) 5-1.

Both teams scored a run in the first inning. The Millers loaded the bases, then Luke Hagelskamp drew a walk to send McCoy Fulk home.

Noblesville steadily added to its lead during the game. Aiden Ramsey hit a fourth-inning sacrifice fly to score Hagelskamp, then Trevor Corbett singled Aiden Reynolds home in the fifth inning. The Millers scored two runs in the sixth inning: Ramsey doubled in Tanner Miller, then scored on Jalen Stidham’s RBI groundout.

Corbett finished with two hits. Beckett Doane pitched four innings for the win, striking out eight and allowing only one hit. Eli Hall threw the other two innings, tossing four strikeouts against two hits.

Noblesville is 2-4 and plays at Avon Wednesday to start Hoosier Crossroads Conference play.