Noblesville won its Hoosier Crossroads Conference opener on Wednesday with an 11-4 victory at Avon.
The Millers started the game with three runs in the top of the first inning. Cooper Miles drew a walk, then advanced to third on a DJ Owens base hit. Matt Peek came up next, and sent everybody home with an inside-the-park home run.
The Orioles scored two runs in the bottom of the first, but Noblesville got those runs back in the second inning. Brady Walden was walked, then Cole Barnes got on base with a single. Miles drew another walk to load the bases, and Owens sent a base hit into right field, scoring Walden and Barnes.
Avon added another run in the bottom of the second, but the Millers answered again: A third-inning double from Cade Nelis scored Jacob Weiler. Noblesville then poured in five runs in the sixth inning. Walden drew a walk, with Jackson Hancock coming in to pinch run for him. Back-to-back singles by Barnes and Miles eventually sent Hancock in to score.
Owens was walked to load the bases, then three more consecutive walks scored Barnes, Miles and Owens respectively. Gruver singled in the final run of the game, scoring Zach Gruver.
Barnes, Owens and Peek all had two hits, with Owens stealing two bases. Camden Nagel pitched a complete game, tossing nine strikeouts.
The Millers are 2-4 and host Avon at 6 p.m. today to complete the HCC series. It will also be the first game of the season for Noblesville at Don Dunker Field.
Noblesville 11, Avon 4
Noblesville AB R H RBI
Cole Barnes 5 2 2 0
Cooper Miles 3 2 1 1
DJ Owens 3 2 2 2
Matt Peek 3 2 2 4
Jacob Weiler 2 1 0 1
Cade Nelis 4 0 1 2
Ethan Imel 2 0 0 0
Zach Gruver 4 0 1 1
Brady Walden 1 1 0 0
Jackson Hancock 1 1 0 0
Totals 28 11 9 11
Score by innings
Noblesville 321 005 0 – 11 9 1
Avon 210 000 1 – 4 6 0
HR: Peek. 2B: Nelis. SB: Owens 2, Barnes, Miles. HBP: Owens, Peek, Weiler.
Noblesville pitching IP R ER H
Camden Nagel 7 3 2 6
Strikeouts: Nagel 9. Walks: Nagel 1.