The outlook for the 2011 version of Noblesville baseball was pretty much a coin flip. Coach Justin Keever knew that he had a lot of experience coming back, but didn't know how those inexperienced players would adapt to playing at the varsity level.
The then 4A #4 Noblesville Millers baseball team opened up play on March 29 by dominating 3A #5 Crawfordsville on the road, 8-1.
On Final Four semifinal Saturday, because Butler was back in the Final Four, Noblesville hosted the 1st Annual Miller Classic at Dunker Field. It was an all day affair that featured Homestead (Fort Wayne), Louisville St. Xavier and Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller. Homestead topped Noblesville in Game 1. Cincinnati Moeller outslugged St. Xavier in Game 2. Noblesville hit solid in their Game 3 (consolation) win over St. Xavier. Homestead poured in on Moeller in the final innings of Game 4 (championship) of the 1st Annual Miller Classic to hoist the trophy.
Three days later on the first leg of the Spring Break trip, Keever's crew returned the favor and played at Louisville St. Xavier. The Miller took this game in Kentucky, 9-5, to get a good start on the trip as they headed south for a week of baseball.
The Farragut Invitational (Tennessee) gave the Millers a chance to see how they measured up against some nationally ranked opponents in the likes of Grove City (OH), the hosts in Farragut (TN), Tullahoma (TN) and Anderson County (TN). On Thursday, Grove City posed no problem, as Noblesville cruised to a 12-6 win. Farragut, currently 15-3 and Baseball America's #8 team nationally, dropped a goose egg on the diamond Millers, 7-0. Friday's games were a little more the way the Millers planned. Noblesville edged Tullahoma 6-4 in their early game and thumped Anderson County 17-9 in the nightcap.
A nice 4-1 record on their 2011 Spring Break trip was just the dose of what Keever's Millers needed heading into Hoosier Crossroads Conference play. That 4-1 trip record brought their record to 6-2 overall.
Since returning home from their successful trip, the Millers have been in quite the past week. With a home-and-home last week with Fishers to open HCC play, the "White River Rivalry" at Carmel this past Saturday and a Monday date at Brownsburg, Noblesville has found itself in quite a hole. A pair of losses (7-6, 9-8 in 8 innings) to Fishers, a 6-2 loss in an odd affair at Carmel, then opening this week with a 3-2 loss at Brownsburg, there are questions to be answered this week.
Noblesville sits at 6-6 overall and 0-3 in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference. Brownsburg is currently 4-3, 2-1 in HCC games. Tonight, the Bulldogs come to Dunker Field with a possible chip on their shoulders. Since last Monday (April 12th), Brownsburg has won 3-of-4 games by the combined score of 33-12, including at 16-2 drilling of Speedway and 10-0 blanking of McCutcheon.
Tonight, if Dunker's conditions allow, will serve as a test for both Noblesville and Brownsburg. After visiting Noblesville tonight, the Bulldogs have a home-and-home with HCC and 4A powerhouse Hamilton Southeastern. Noblesville faces a tough task this weekend. Zionsville comes to Dunker Field on Friday night for a very key HCC game at 7pm. Saturday, the Millers and Eagles collide in Game 1 of the 4th Annual Victory Field Classic, game time is TBD.
The Millers will be ok and get better, I promise. There is too much talent and leadership on this 2011 group to let things go any further than they have. I look to see a good crowd at Dunker Field tonight, despite the low temperature of 38 degrees.
If you come out to Dunker Field tonight, which if you don't know, is located at SR 32 and Hazel Dell in Noblesville on the campus of Hazel Dell Elementary School. The voice you'll hear throughout the game will be my voice. I am the Public Address voice of Noblesville Miller baseball, Craig Adkins.
GO MILLERS!!!!!!!
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