Rocks pick up HCC sweep over Flashes

The REPORTER

Westfield got an early jump on the Hoosier Crossroads Conference Thursday by finishing a sweep of Franklin Central.

The Shamrocks hosted the Flashes at Grand Park and won the second game of their series 5-2. The Flashes scored both of their runs in the top of the fourth inning, after which Westfield took over.

Robbie Brandenburg singled in Nick Fero to give the Rocks a run in the bottom of the fourth and pull within 2-1. Westfield’s defense turned a double play in the top of the sixth, with Maddox Novotney grabbing a lineout, then tossing to Gavin Russ at first base.

“He’s been phenomenal,” Rocks coach Ryan Bunnell said of Novotney. “Rarely is he going to light up the stat sheet, but he does so many things that are just huge for us. He made two-plus defensive plays today that were game-changers for us.”

In the bottom of the sixth, Andrew Noble took the Shamrocks from trailing to leading with a three-RBI triple. Novotney, Kasen Jessup and Nick Fero all scored. Noble soon scored, with Lincoln Hoffman blasting a double to left field.

“He’s off to a hot start and been doing so well,” said Bunnell. “We knew when he was up, he had a chance.”

“We’ve been doing a really good job in these three games,” said Bunnell. “Even in the loss to Center Grove, we’ve been doing a really good job when we have two strikes in how we’ve been fighting, staying in the fight with two strikes.”

Clayton Walther threw two strikeouts in the seventh inning, then Evan Govert came in and induced a groundout for the third out.

Noble finished with two hits, while Walther totaled four strikeouts in 3.2 innings for the win. Ben Spencer also threw four strikeouts.

Westfield will take its annual Tennessee trip next week, playing Grace Christian Academy at 7 p.m. Thursday to begin the trip.

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Carmel’s baseball team won its opener on Thursday, holding off Covenant Christian for a 5-4 victory at Hartman Field.

The Greyhounds started the game strong, with five runs in the first two innings. Carmel led 2-0 after the first inning; John Zangrilli scored the first run with a passed ball, then Charles Ranek scored after Silas Neal was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

In the second inning, Max Walkey smacked a two-run double, sending home Kane Hare and Zangrilli. Walkey later scored on a wild pitch.

The Warriors got back in the game with four runs in the fifth inning, but Carmel was able to hold on. The Hounds didn’t allow a hit in the final two innings, with Ranek throwing two strikeouts during that time.

Zangrilli went 3-for-4 at the plate. Jacob Behm and Mark Neels both hit one double. Cam Carmichael pitched the first inning and got the win.

The Greyhounds got on the road Saturday, playing at the Bedford North Lawrence Round Robin. The Greyhounds take on the host Stars at 11 a.m. and Evansville North at 12:30 p.m.

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Noblesville began its play at the Clarksville (Tenn.) tournament with a 3-1 loss to Hilliard Bradley (Ohio) on Thursday.

Bradley led 3-0 after five innings. The Millers scored their run in the sixth inning; Aiden Reynolds hit a one-out double and later scored on a wild pitch.

Reynolds got the only Noblesville hit of the game. Griffin Snider pitched 4.2 innings, striking out eight.

The Millers are 1-1 and play two games at Clarksville today, taking on Henry County (Tenn.) at 11 a.m. and the host Clarksville at 4 p.m.