By CRAIG ADKINS
For The Reporter
CARMEL – The two semifinal matchups in Sectional 8 last Saturday couldn’t have lived more up to their billing. The heightened atmosphere was expected and the crowd at Hartman Field was what was anticipated from the four remaining teams.
The Greyhounds and Millers set the tone right away for the intense rivalry that it is and the fans go their money’s worth for sure.
The Millers found ways late to overtake the host Greyhounds on a walk-off walk, 7-6.
Noblesville starter Nolan Decker was putting it where Carmel hitters wanted it, but the first 10 he faced wouldn’t reach base.
“They had some hard-hitting balls. And, they had some loud outs early, too,” stated Noblesville head coach Justin Keever.
“We were having great at-bats against him. Those ground balls and ground outs that you were seeing mean our guys were locked in and had a great approach against him,” said Carmel head coach Ty Neal.
Jack Shade sent a one-out single to left and would be joined on-base by Aiden Ramsey, reaching on an error. Jacob Edwards dropped a single into shallow right that allowed Shade to sprint home for the early 1-0 Miller lead.
James Charland led off the fifth with a line drive to center. Pinch runner Carson Mace advanced on a fielder’s choice from Tripp Schoeder, but would be thrown out by left fielder Conner Seago.
Drew Fouts then got hit by a Decker pitch and Case Sullivan walked to load the bases with one out. Tyler Walkey, JD Stein and Hunter Snow all singled in consecutive at-bats, driving home runs and Carmel led 4-1 heading into the bottom of the fourth.
The Greyhounds tacked on another in the sixth. Charland led off with a base hit to left and would make it home easily when Noblesville relief pitcher Lucas Stephan would be charged with a balk, extending the Carmel lead to 5-1.
Noblesville answered Carmel and it didn’t take long in the bottom of the sixth.
Bryce Riggs started off the home half of the sixth by taking an 0-2 count for solid contact to center. Decker walked for two on. Shade and Ramsey both flew out for two quick outs. Edwards walked to load the bases.
Blake Widget took advantage of a 1-1 pitch from Dylan Zenor, sending it to the fence in right center for a bases-clearing double, trimming the Greyhound margin to 5-4.
“Blake Widget comes up with the bases loaded, hits a big knock. God bless that kid. He’s been struggling this year, trying to get on the field consistently. His response to all of those situations was how can I get better and all he did was practice like a superstar. He kept competing and competing and he got this opportunity late in the season and he came through. I’m really proud of Blake. He’s just persevering,” said Keever.
Hunter Corbett then came up with a clutch RBI single, scoring Widget and knotting the game 5-5.
“Hunter Corbett got that two-out, tying hit in the sixth. The guy’s had great at-bats all year,” continued Keever.
The Greyhounds weren’t done yet. Stein led off the top of the seventh with a double to deep left. Hunter Snow drove Stein in for a 6-5 Carmel edge.
Gabe Mathison came on to pitch in the bottom of the seventh.
Riggs walked and then moved to second on a Decker single. Shade got hit by a pitch to load the bases. Adam Buczkowski came in and immediately hit Ramsey, tying the game 6-6.
Ty Neal then went to another bullpen arm in Cam Heaney. Jacob Edwards took four straight balls to walk in the winning run on a walk-off walk, advancing the Millers to the sectional championship by the score of 7-6.
“I felt like I handed the ball to a couple of our pitchers in situations that it’s not fair. I feel I could have put them in a better situation,” stated Neal.
“I don’t really believe in momentum in baseball. I just think your momentum is your next day’s starting pitcher. We’ve got another game. The rock’s going to be at the bottom of the hill and it’s going to start all over,” stated Keever.
The Carmel Greyhounds end their season at 20-9.
JD Stein, Hunter Snow and James Charland all had two hits for Carmel.
The Miller offense was highlighted by Widget’s three-run double, along with hits by Riggs, Decker, Shade and Edwards, who also had two RBIs. Dylan Keever came on to pitch in the top of the seventh to earn the win.
Noblesville (23-6) moves on to play in Monday’s sectional championship.
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The second semifinal would also have its moments of intensity, because Hamilton Southeastern and Westfield knew that with a win, they advance to play for Monday’s sectional championship. Southeastern beat the Shamrock 5-2.
The Royals would be the first to get their bats going and they did it in the top of the second.
An infield single from Harrison Dilts and Chugga Rosario getting hit by a pitch for two on with one out. Alex Billman then doubled to right center to score both Dilts and Rosario for the early 2-0 HSE lead.
“I think he (Ty Anderson) really controlled us the first time we played them. We might have had one hit against him. For us, we wanted to figure out how to put more pressure on him offensively and we had to be ready to attack early in the count,” said Hamilton Southeastern head coach Kory Seitz.
“I tried to tell Ty, stay in the fight, because they haven’t really barrelled you up hard yet. So, give us a chance to come back,” said Westfield head coach Ryan Bunnell.
On the other side of things, Ty Bradle was throwing a great game, striking out six through three frames of work on the mound.
“You want to talk about a gamer, there’s a kid who was the quarterback that took a team to a semi-state and won some huge games on the football field. I love multi-sport kids. He’s been in that pressure situation. He’s not fazed one bit,” stated Seitz.
Westfield got to Bradle a little in the bottom of the fourth. Two walks to lead off the inning by Evan Russ and Matt Drozlek.
A shallow single to right by Alex Rudolph and the ‘Rocks were making their move to get back in it. Rudolph drove in Russ on his hit to cut it to 2-1.
Tyler Gentry tied the game 2-2 on a fielder’s choice.
“We tied it. We had bases loaded another inning and didn’t get a big hit, which might have changed things,” continued Bunnell.
Seth Nanna came in to pitch the top of the seventh and the Royals jumped on him quickly.
Griffin Haas singled to start things off. Cole Earlewin was hit by a pitch and DH Nolan Colbert got on to load up the bags with a swinging bunt with no outs.
Two batters later, things changed. Harrison Dilts laced a one-hop, bases-clearing double to left, scoring Haas, Earlewine and Colbert for a 5-2 HSE lead.
“Harrison has been a really hot bat for us. I was watching where they were shifted at and he’s been in that spot a ton in the past week. If he gets his hands extended at all, that was going to be a problem and that’s exactly what he did,” stated Seitz.
Brady Strawmyer came in to relieve Bradle in the seventh to help seal the semifinal win for the Royals.
Westfield ends its 2023 season with a 17-11 mark.
Bradle grabbed the win, moving his pitching record to 7-1 on the season. Dilts had two hits and obviously was the HSE top hitter at the plate, driving in three on his double. Haas also had two hits and was one of five Royals to score.
Hamilton Southeastern (17-14) advances to Monday’s sectional championship against Hamilton County and Hoosier Crossroads Conference rival Noblesville (23-6) at noon.