Softball: Fast start sends Millers to victory

The REPORTER

The Noblesville softball team got off to a fast start, and that helped send the Millers to a 7-5 win over Pendleton Heights in a Thursday home game.

Noblesville went up 3-0 in the first inning. Delaney Rundle scored the first run on a passed ball, then Reese Newsom singled in Brookelyn Grayson and Addi Emmerson.

The Arabians took a 4-3 lead in the top of the third inning, but the Millers answered with three runs in the bottom of the third. Emmerson tied the game with a run, Grayson scored on a single by Haley Schatko, who scored later in the inning to put Noblesville ahead 6-4.

Pendleton hit a home run in the top of the fifth inning, and Izzy Zapp hit her own homer for the Millers in the bottom of the fifth. Noblesville totaled 11 hits, including three for Grayson and two for Newsom. Addison Retzinger pitched 4.2 innings for the win, totaling seven strikeouts against two hits.

Noblesville is 10-4 and hosts its own invitational on Saturday, playing Decatur Central at 10 a.m. and Plainfield at 12:30 p.m.

***

Carmel used a strong offense in the early innings to beat Tri-West 12-8 in a Thursday road game.

The Greyhounds scored four runs in the top of the first inning. The Bruins answered with five runs in the bottom of the first, but Carmel put up six in the top of the second inning and was in control from there.

Jayden Kleiner was perfect at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a home run, two doubles and a single. Mia Fleming also hit two doubles as part of a 3-for-4 night. Winni Owens and Megan Pike also hit one double. Carmel had 14 hits as a team.

Kleiner, Fleming, Owens and Avery Klein all batted in two runs. Katherine Warren had two hits. Kleiner scored three runs with Taylor Vietch scoring two. Emily Smith pitched five innings for the win, tossing four strikeouts.

Carmel is 4-12 and hosts Guerin Catholic this evening for a 6 p.m. all-county game.

***

Fishers took care of Mt. Vernon 16-4 in six innings on Thursday.

The Tigers led 2-0 after one inning, then put up six runs in the second inning. Fishers had 23 hits and seven doubles, including two for Adrianne Cook as part of a 4-for-5 night at the plate. Cook also drove in six runs. Anna McGrath also went 4-for-5 at the plate, while Cate Summerfield had three hits.

Frankie Jackson, Kendall Jordan, Azstryd Alexander, Rylee Bast and Addie Jones each hit one double. Summerfield, Jordan, Abby Shannon and Cook all scored two runs. Jackson went five innings for the pitching win.

Fishers is 11-5 and hosts Zionsville at 6 p.m. tonight.

***

Sheridan dropped a 10-7 game to Tri-Central Thursday at Grand Park.

The Blackhawks totaled 22 hits, with eight different players getting at least two hits. Adria Jump was 4-for-5 at the plate, all of them doubles. Mac Smith, Amiyah Doss, Ali Pickard and Lainey Mendenhall all collected three hits, including a double for Mendenhall.

The Trojans led 5-1 after two innings and were up 10-3 in the fifth inning. Sheridan made a comeback in the sixth inning with four runs, but Tri-Central held on for the win.

The ‘Hawks are 1-7 and host Clinton Central this afternoon at Grand Park.

***

Westfield fell at Yorktown 9-4 on Thursday.

The Shamrocks led 3-1 midway through the third inning. Chloe Tanner hit a two-run home run, also scoring Sofia Easterhaus, then Cam Pulice followed that with a solo homer. Pulice hit a second home run to lead off the sixth inning, putting Westfield up 4-3. But the Arabians scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth to win the game.

Sydney Jordan also had two hits, including a double. Mackenzie Delph pitched 3.2 innings, striking out five.

Westfield is 7-5 and hosts Bishop Chatard at 5:30 p.m. today.