THE REPORTER
The Noblesville baseball team got two tough wins at Avon Thursday to open Hoosier Crossroads Conference play.
The Millers won the first game 2-1 in eight innings. The Orioles scored their run in the bottom of the first inning, and held that lead until the top of the sixth. Noblesville loaded the bases by drawing two walks, then Bryce Riggs was hit by a pitch. After absorbing a strikeout, the Millers got a run when Nolan Decker hit a sacrifice fly to score Trevor Corbett.
The score was still tied at 1-1 after the regulation seven innings, but one extra inning was all Noblesville needed. Corbett drew a walk to open the eighth, advanced to third on an error, then scored on a passed ball. The Millers took care of Avon three up, three down in the bottom of the eighth to get the win.
Both teams only had one hit in the game; Riggs singled for Noblesville in the fourth inning. Decker went all eight innings for a one-hitter, tossing 13 strikeouts.
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In the second game, the Millers got on top early, then cruised to a 4-1 win to sweep the HCC doubleheader. Noblesville scored all four of its runs in the bottom of the first inning.
Corbett led off with a single, then Aiden Reynolds smacked a double into left field, moving Corbett to third. Riggs was hit by a pitch to load the bases; Connor Seago came in to pinch run for him. During Aiden Ramsey’s at-bat, Corbett was sent home after a pitcher balk.
Ramsey was hit by a pitch to load the bases again. Decker scored Reynolds on an RBI fielder’s choice. Jack Shade then got two RBIs, with a left field single to bring in Ramsey and Decker.
Riggs got the pitching win, going six and a third innings, with 12 strikeouts, one walk and three hits. Lucas Stephan came in and pitched the final two outs for the save.
The Millers are 6-1 for the season and host Castle on Saturday afternoon.