‘Rocks take down Royals in conference game, Fishers scores late to beat Flashes

THE REPORTER

The Westfield baseball team won a Hoosier Crossroads Conference game over Hamilton Southeastern 2-0 on Thursday.

The Shamrocks scored their first run in the fourth inning. Evan Russ led off with a double, and was eventually brought in by Tyler Gentry’s right field hit. Westfield added a second run in the fifth inning when Eli Manbeck singled in Caden Lindsey.

Brayden Hibler, Alex Rudolph and Gentry all had two hits, with Hibler cracking a third-inning triple. Ty Anderson pitched a dominant complete game, striking out six while allowing just one hit and one walk.

Maddux Bach had the lone hit for the Royals. Ty Bradle also pitched a complete game, striking out five.

Both teams are 6-5 in the conference. Westfield 12-9 overall, while Southeastern is 11-12. The two teams will play tonight at the Royals’ Ken Seitz Field.

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Fishers scored late runs to beat Franklin Central on the road 3-1 in an HCC game.

The Flashes got their run in the first inning, and held that 1-0 lead through four innings. The Tigers tied the game in the fifth inning when Brevin Barker got on base with a bunt single, moved to second base on an error and to third base on a passed ball, then scored on Noah McPeek’s RBI groundout.

Fishers scored the go-ahead run in the sixth inning. Caulin Brown got on base with a single, and Michael Hughes came in to run for him. Hughes stole second, then was brought home by Gavin Kuzniewski’s right field hit. McPeek scored the Tigers’ third run in the seventh inning, going home on Gavin Clayton’s sacrifice fly.

Kuzniewski finished the game with two hits. Jack Brown got the complete-game win, tossing nine strikeouts.

Fishers is 7-4 in the conference and 16-10 overall, and hosts Franklin Central tonight to complete the conference series.