No. 3 Noblesville opens with big win at Kentucky No. 2 St. Xavier

By CRAIG ADKINS

For The Reporter

The third-ranked Noblesville baseball team opened its season on Monday night in Louisville against perennial Midwest power in Kentucky’s second-ranked St. Xavier.

The Millers flashed some grit at the plate and showed promise on the mound in handing the host Tigers (7-1) their first loss of the season with a 5-4 road win.

Ethan Clark led off the top of the first with a walk and was driven in on an Aiden Reynolds double for the early 1-0 score.

St. Xavier scored in the bottom of the inning on a wild pitch and single to center to take a 2-1 lead.

Clark was hit by a pitch in the third and stole second. Reynolds followed suit again, doubling up the middle to tie it 2-2.

The Millers broke the game open a little in the fourth. Zac Glander was hit by a pitch and then scored on a two-run blast to center by Brooks Riggs that made it 4-2. Chris Martz walked and scored on an Ethan Clark base hit, pushing it to 5-2.

The Tigers scored two in the sixth, but Brooks Muse was able to keep St. Xavier from scoring in the seventh to secure the win.

Eli Hall threw four innings in relief of Beckett Doane and struck out seven, giving him the win on the mound. Doane started and threw one frame, striking out three. Muse tossed two innings to earn the save.

Aiden Reynolds’ two doubles and two driven in, along with Brooks Riggs’ two-run home run, are what paved the way for the Miller offense.

Ethan Clark and Zac Glander had the other two hits.

Noblesville (1-0) continues its spring break road trip when they travel to the Clarksville, Tenn. area for four games. On Thursday, they face Hilliard Bradley (Ohio) (1-0). The Millers play on Friday against Henry County (5-6) from Paris, Tenn. and visit Clarksville Academy (7-9) later in the afternoon. On Saturday morning, the opponent is Dickson County (8-10).

The Millers then get back to The Dunk for the home opener on April 6 to face the Lebanon Tigers at 6 p.m.