Loeb Stadium, Lafayette, IN: Lafayette Jeff 5, Noblesville 2
The Millers started this Tuesday night road trip off on the right foot with a two-run third inning. Andrew Wilson and Luke Porter each drove in runs and Porter (along with Nevin Fansher) crossed home plate in the inning.
The host Bronchos fought right back in the bottom of the third, fourth and fifth, scoring one, three and one in consecutive frames. After five, Jeff had itself a 5-2 lead that they wouldn't relinquish.
Garrett Christman led Noblesville in hitting with a 3-for-3 effort. Nick Vallier, TJ Lindstrand, Garrett Welch, Porter and Wilson all combined with Christman for the eight Miller hits.
Lafayette Jeff starting pitcher Griff Clark went the distance, striking out five and walking just one in his seven innings of complete game work for the Bronchos.
Ben Yoder suffered the loss for Noblesville, tossing four innings and allowing four (all earned) of Jeff's five runs, but he did strike out six, walking just a pair. Brock Masterson and Trevor Salmon each threw an inning.
The loss dropped the Millers to 1-6 in Hoosier Crossroads Conference play and Lafayette Jeff upped its league record to 3-4.
Dunker Field, Noblesville, IN: Noblesville 4, Lafayette Jeff 2
Peter Ripke was out to prove that he really is one of the better pitchers in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference. The toughest task was that he had to do it on the road at The Dunk in Noblesville. Senior hurler Kent Williams was making his second start of the season since coming back from a pre-season injury and couldn't wait to get his first win on the mound.
It was quite the pitching duel through the first four with Ripke and Williams. Ripke had six K's in his six innings and Williams fanned eight in his 5.1 innings. Ripke seemed almost unstoppable, sending down four of the first seven hitters he faced on strikes. Before the 5th, Williams only allowed two hits and stranding four Bronchos on the bases.
Lafayette Jeff struck first in the top of the 5th. Ethan Smith led off with a 1-0 single to right. He moved over to third on an Austin Albrecht single to center, giving Jeff runners at the corners with one out, an Eli Ledman strikeout. Reid Pittard was hit by a Williams pitch to load the bases for the pitcher Ripke. With a 3-1 count, Ripke was given the green light and hit a sacrifice fly that scored Smith from third to put the visitors on the scoreboard first with a 1-0 lead.
They got back at it in the 6th with three consecutive one-out hits. Griff Clark reached first with an infield hit. Sam Russell drove Clark home with an RBI double to left for a 2-0 Jeff lead. Smith got on base with a swinging bunt, but he and Russell were both stranded after Bailey Perdue and Albrecht counted for the final two outs of the inning.
Noblesville was a little irritated and felt it was their turn to put some runs on the board and that's just what they did in the bottom of the sixth.
With one out (a Wides pinch-hit K), Nevin Fansher hit a sharp grounder that was misplayed by SS Griff Clark, allowing Fansher to first with a Clark error. Luke Porter flied out to right to give the Millers two outs and hope dwindling away. Andrew Wilson walked in five pitches. Next, Nick Vallier lined a two-run double to the right center gap, sending Fansher and Wilson home to knot the score up at 2-2. Mike Nichols was overdue for a big hit and he came through when it mattered most for the Millers, hitting a two-hop double to the wall in right center, scoring Vallier for a 3-2 advantage. Garrett Christman smacked a single to right which allowed Nichols to score with ease, giving the Millers a 4-2 cushion heading to the top of the 7th.
Brock Hammond, who relieved Kent Williams in the sixth with one out, came back in to secure the win for Noblesville in the seventh. Hammond was a man on a mission. He went 1-2-3 through the Broncho hitters, end the game with a Noblesville, much needed, victory!
Ripke threw a complete game, but got the loss in the decision. Despite his 8 K's, Kent Williams would up with a no-decision, but what a valiant effort the senior gave. His senior pitching mate, Brock Hammond, got himself the W, going the final 1.2 innings.
It was technically the "meat" of the NHS batting order that turned out to make the difference in this losing streak snapping win. Vallier, Nichols and Christman combined to go 4-of-8 with 4 RBI's and two runs scored, most importantly the game-winning run by Nichols.
Noblesville is now 2-6 in the HCC, while the series-splitting loss gives the Bronchos a 3-5 league mark.
Dunker Field, Noblesville, IN: 2A #7 Delphi 4, Noblesville 3
Miller baseball seemed like it was back in full swing to start the non-conference battle with 2A #7 Delphi. They wasted no time at all to get under the skin of Oracle pitcher Jason Sterrett.
Nevin Fansher did his job as the lead-off hitter, nabbing an infield single and stealing second fairly quick after reaching base. Andrew Wilson singled to left, sending Fansher to third with one out. Next, Nick Vallier hit a grounder to short, forcing Wilson out and Vallier was safe at first on a fielder's choice. Fansher scored for a 1-0 Noblesville lead. Mike Nichols kept his bat hot and singled to shallow left center, giving NHS runners at first and second with two outs. Garrett Christman also kept his bat heated up with a two-run single, scoring Vallier and Nichols to put Noblesville up 3-0 after one.
Both squads went in order in the second.
Delphi found a kink in the Millers' armour in the third. Taran Murphy got a little rattled, walking Sterrett to lead off the inning. Matt Brown laid down a bunt to move his pitcher to second. He did a great job because the throw to second was late, giving Brown a fielder's choice on a bunt and Sterrett safe at second. DH Karson Bender put his bat all over the ball, hitting a two-run double to the wall in left, scoring Sterrett and Brown to cut Noblesville's lead to 3-2. The next hitter, Ostin Clark, hit an RBI double to the outfield, sending Bender home to tie the score at 3-3 through three innings.
Sterrett had the Millers' number for the remainder of the ball game. After they got 3 runs on 4 hits in the first, Noblesville was held to two hits and six total base runners through the final six. Two of those base runners were picked off on the base path, squandering chances to score.
Murphy went seven strong innings for Coach Keever's crew, but he pitched nothing close to what he did during the middle of the game. He started the 7th off with 0-2 count on the pitcher Sterrett, but plunked his counterpart. Matt Brown put down a sacrifice bunt, giving Sterrett second with ease. Kaleb Salyer struck out for out number two. Murphy's nerves got a little tighter with 2B Kolby Myer at the plate. Myer sent a grounder straight up the middle, scoring Sterrett from second for a 4-3 Delphi lead.
Noblesville had one last shot to either tie or win the ball game in the bottom of the seventh. Mike Nichols got the inning off on the right foot with a single to left, igniting the Miller faithful. Christman grounded out to the pitcher for the first out, moving Nichols to second. Justin Holloway came in to pinch-hit for LF Brian McLean and he popped out to Kolby Myer at second for the second out. Garrett Welch showed great patience, walking on four pitches. Welch and Nichols moved up a base each to second and third on a passed ball, giving the home standing Millers a little bit of energy. Catcher Sam Wides came up with a good deal of confidence and hope that he might provide the game-winning hit. Wides worked the count to 2-1 in his favor, hoping to get the best of Sterrett. Wides connected on the next pitch and hit the ball on a rope to left, but it wasn't deep enough, nor was it shallow enough to drop for a base hit. Instead, LF Kaleb Salyer leaned forward and made a below-the-waist catch for the third out, ending what would have been another come-from-behind win for the Millers. Noblesville fell, but fell honorably to a good Delphi team.
The Millers only had six hits, half of them coming from Nichols and Christman. They jeopardized run possibilities in the fifth and sixth innings by getting picked off trying to steal bases. If Wides' line out to end the game in the bottom of the 7th would have been to either side of the Delphi left fielder, there would have been a different outcome and this would have been Noblesville's second comeback win in as many games.
Heartbreaking, to say the least. Motivating game for Noblesville? You bet it was, at least it should be. We've got a chance this week to make some noise in the conference.
We start from scratch Monday at home vs. the McCutcheon Mavericks (13-3 overall; 5-1 HCC). It won't be an easy task by any means. Tuesday, we'll head up to Lafayette to face McCutcheon that their place. On Friday, we hit the road again and go down to the SW side of Indianapolis to Avon (8-7 overall; 3-5 HCC). Saturday afternoon puts a cap on the series with the Avon Orioles with a Noon start at The Dunk.
Millers, it's time to put the saddles back on your horses. This team is very capable of doing some magic during the final 12 regular season games ahead. I'll recall back to the 2010 season when Noblesville won the Noblesville Sectional at Dunker Field. Those feisty Millers won the Sectional and came very close to beating Cathedral for a Regional title with a 14-14 record! Let's start this week against two key Hoosier Crossroads Conference foes and get a winning streak going! LET'S GO MILLERS!
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Miller baseball: the past nine days...(April 16-April 24)
Noblesville 3, Brownsburg 2 (Monday, 4/16)
The Millers got that proverbial "monkey off their back" last week and won their first Hoosier Crossroads Conference game of the season with a come-from-behind 3-2 victory at The Dunk.
Brownsburg managed to get five base runners aboard in the top of the first, but were only able to cross the plate twice. Logan Coughlin and Tyler Whetstone both singled. John Moore reached via an error by catcher Sam Wides on a throw to first. Bobby Carr was intentionally walked. Whetstone's deep single to left center scored Coughlin and David Oliger's sacrifice fly drove John Moore home for a 2-0 Bulldogs lead through half an inning.
Jordan Teal did his job in keeping Noblesville's bats quiet as long as he could through 4 2/3 innings, allowing just five hits.
The Millers' bats finally came alive in the fourth and fifth. Nick Vallier led the 4th off with an infield single. Vallier was plated when DH Mike Nichols hit an RBI single down the right field line.
Sam Wides continued the hitting for NHS in the fifth. Leading off with a bloop single over third base and just into shallow left field. Wides stole second with ease and advanced to third on a single to left by Brian McLean. Center fielder Steven Jones got his first varsity RBI in his second start with a sacrifice fly to center that sent Wides home.
Ben Yoder pitched a solid 5+ innings, only allowing 2 hits and 2 runs (both earned) and 6 strikeouts. He started off the 6th with three consecutive walks, which brought Brock Hammond in from the Miller bullpen. Hammond struck out a couple Bulldog hitters in two innings of relief, never allowing the ball out of the infield.
Noblesville had one last chance to grab the W. Brian McLean took the first pitch of the bottom of the 7th and drilled it into left. He stole second just before Jones flied out to right for the first out. Garrett Christman was intentionally walked without seeing a pitch. Garrett Welch struck out, putting two outs on the scoreboard and both teams wondering what would happen next. Vallier walked on four straight pitches, loading the bases for Nevin Fansher. Fansher then smoked a 2-1 fastball into left center and McLean scored with ease from third, giving the Millers a walk-off victory, 3-2 over Brownsburg.
McLean, Vallier, Welch and Wides all provided two hits a piece, but it was the RBI hits from Steven Jones, Mike Nichols and Fansher's walk-off that proved the most vital in this HCC win.
Brownsburg 9, Noblesville 8 (9 inn.; Tues. 4/17 at Brownsburg)
Brownsburg got right at it in Game 2 of the series, putting three runs on the board in the bottom of the first. Noblesville tallied their first run in the top of the second, but Brownsburg lengthened their lead to 6-1 with another three runs in the bottom of the third. Noblesville planned to keep up with this track meet on the line score. They posted a three-run 4th to close the Bulldog lead to 6-4. Each scored once in the fifth for a 7-5 lead for the hosts.
The Millers tied the game up at 7-7 with a Justin Holloway two-run single that sent this HCC tilt to extra innings. Noblesville scored in the 8th, but Brownsburg one-uped them by scoring single runs in both the eighth and ninth to close out the game 9-8 in 9 innings and split the two game series.
Nick Vallier went 3-for-4 to lead the Millers' eight-hit parade. He and Brock Welch scored twice each while Mike Nichols, Garrett Christman, Nevin Fansher and Sam Wides all crossed the plate once. Justin Holloway's two RBI's in the 7th was the confidence that Noblesville needed, but they were unfortunately outscored 2-1 in the two extra frames.
Starting pitcher Taran Murphy was roughed up in his four innings of work. He allowed 4 hits, 6 runs (all earned), while walking two and striking out a pair. Trevor Salmon contributed three innings, keeping Brownsburg in-check for the most part, only giving up two hits and one run (earned), to go with three K's. Brock Hammond and Mike Speek combined for two innings, Hammond suffered the loss for the Millers.
4A #2 Zionsville sweeps series with Noblesville
Zionsville brings quite the potent attack on the diamond this season. They aren't ranked second in Class 4A for nothing.
In Thursday's game at Zionsville, the host Eagles did nothing but hit the ball. Parker Dunshee nabbed a three-run double. Drew Small went 2-4 with a double. Cameron Richey scored twice. Ben Kocher scored twice, had a double, RBI and stole a base. Travis Tokerk and Jared Wentz each had an RBI to go along with Ryan Bertram's 2-3 night with and RBI-double.
It honestly left Noblesville beside itself when they were trying to figure out how to get back into the game. The Millers had six hitters in its lineup that tallied a hit and all but McLean reached base at least once. So, it was pretty much a chore keeping Zionsville off the bases. The end result last Thursday was Zionsville 8, Noblesville 3 at Zionsville.
Friday night's game was rained out and the two teams took to The Dunk (Dunker Field) at noon on Saturday, 4/21. Ben Kocher pitched six solid innings for the Eagles on the road to help shutdown the host Millers 8-1.
Troy Kuhn highlighted the Eagles at the dish by going 3-for-4, leaving himself a home run shy of hitting for the cycle, with a double, triple, along with two runs and two RBI's. Nick Barrientos also stroked an RBI-double and Joel Trewartha scored twice, including a solo home run.
DH Mike Nichols was the only bright spot in the Noblesville batting order last Saturday. The Miller DH went 2-3 with a double and the lone run for the hosts. John Cola was what sent Nichols home to score with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh.
Carmel keeps White River oar with 3-2 win at Noblesville
Aside from hitting Carmel catcher Clay Morrison twice in as many plate appearances, Taran Murphy was in complete control on the hill Monday night for the Millers in their White River Rivalry matchup with the Carmel Greyhounds. Murphy four total hits through 5.1 innings and struck out four Greyhounds.
Sophomore Drake Gardner was pitching for the visitors and didn't do a half bad job in his 4.2 innings. Gardner gave up five hits, two runs (both earned) and three walks. Jack Martin took over with two outs in the bottom of the fifth, eventually gaining the win.
Bottom of the fourth, Noblesville got itself on the scoreboard. 3B Luke Porter led off with a single to right center and reached second on the play because of a throwing error by Carmel CF Alex McManus. New Miller CF Andrew Wilson got his first varsity RBI, smacking a single to center, scoring Porter from second for a 1-0 Noblesville lead.
Noblesville got back at it with their bats in the bottom of the fifth. Garrett Christman walked to leadoff. After Fansher flied out to right, Mike Nichols roped a triple to the wall down the left field line, scoring Christman from first to give Noblesville a 2-0 lead.
Murphy let himself get a little rattled and it turned out to be a bad thing in the Carmel half of the sixth. Riley Miller hit a 2-2 pitch for a single to left. Kyle Fiala got his bat on the ball and shot a ball to right field, giving the Greyhounds runners at first and second. In what looked to be an easy out on a grounder to short, Jack Martin reached base on an error by Nick Vallier at short, scoring Miller to cut the gap to one. With Clay Morrison up and Brock Hammond pitching in relief, Hammond throws and ball in the dirt. Fiala scores on a passed ball to tie the game at 2-2.
Jeremy Faulkner grounded out to Hammond for the first out in the seventh, giving the senior reliever slightly more confidence than he had after he allowed two runs in to tie the game in the 6th. Pinch hitter Greg Williams hit a routine ground ball to third. Williams reached because of an error on the play by Porter overthrowing Fansher at first. Cameron Cruz flew out to left for the second out. On consecutive pitches, Williams stole second and wound up at third from another passed ball by Hammond. With a 1-2 count, McManus struck out swinging, but the ball went behind catcher Sam Wides, allowing Williams to score from third, giving Carmel a 3-2 edge.
Jack Martin was pretty much unstoppable on the mound in the sixth and seventh innings for Carmel, allowing just one hit. In the last of the seventh, Martin threw 9 total pitches, which forced three ground outs to end the ball game.
With the victory, Carmel moves its record to 6-7 overall and Noblesville drops to 3-12.
#Noblesville played at Lafayette Jeff on Tuesday, and host the Bronchos Thursday, followed by a Saturday night battle with 2A #7 Delphi (10-3). Those three games will be featured in Sunday's blog.
The Millers got that proverbial "monkey off their back" last week and won their first Hoosier Crossroads Conference game of the season with a come-from-behind 3-2 victory at The Dunk.
Brownsburg managed to get five base runners aboard in the top of the first, but were only able to cross the plate twice. Logan Coughlin and Tyler Whetstone both singled. John Moore reached via an error by catcher Sam Wides on a throw to first. Bobby Carr was intentionally walked. Whetstone's deep single to left center scored Coughlin and David Oliger's sacrifice fly drove John Moore home for a 2-0 Bulldogs lead through half an inning.
Jordan Teal did his job in keeping Noblesville's bats quiet as long as he could through 4 2/3 innings, allowing just five hits.
The Millers' bats finally came alive in the fourth and fifth. Nick Vallier led the 4th off with an infield single. Vallier was plated when DH Mike Nichols hit an RBI single down the right field line.
Sam Wides continued the hitting for NHS in the fifth. Leading off with a bloop single over third base and just into shallow left field. Wides stole second with ease and advanced to third on a single to left by Brian McLean. Center fielder Steven Jones got his first varsity RBI in his second start with a sacrifice fly to center that sent Wides home.
Ben Yoder pitched a solid 5+ innings, only allowing 2 hits and 2 runs (both earned) and 6 strikeouts. He started off the 6th with three consecutive walks, which brought Brock Hammond in from the Miller bullpen. Hammond struck out a couple Bulldog hitters in two innings of relief, never allowing the ball out of the infield.
Noblesville had one last chance to grab the W. Brian McLean took the first pitch of the bottom of the 7th and drilled it into left. He stole second just before Jones flied out to right for the first out. Garrett Christman was intentionally walked without seeing a pitch. Garrett Welch struck out, putting two outs on the scoreboard and both teams wondering what would happen next. Vallier walked on four straight pitches, loading the bases for Nevin Fansher. Fansher then smoked a 2-1 fastball into left center and McLean scored with ease from third, giving the Millers a walk-off victory, 3-2 over Brownsburg.
McLean, Vallier, Welch and Wides all provided two hits a piece, but it was the RBI hits from Steven Jones, Mike Nichols and Fansher's walk-off that proved the most vital in this HCC win.
Brownsburg 9, Noblesville 8 (9 inn.; Tues. 4/17 at Brownsburg)
Brownsburg got right at it in Game 2 of the series, putting three runs on the board in the bottom of the first. Noblesville tallied their first run in the top of the second, but Brownsburg lengthened their lead to 6-1 with another three runs in the bottom of the third. Noblesville planned to keep up with this track meet on the line score. They posted a three-run 4th to close the Bulldog lead to 6-4. Each scored once in the fifth for a 7-5 lead for the hosts.
The Millers tied the game up at 7-7 with a Justin Holloway two-run single that sent this HCC tilt to extra innings. Noblesville scored in the 8th, but Brownsburg one-uped them by scoring single runs in both the eighth and ninth to close out the game 9-8 in 9 innings and split the two game series.
Nick Vallier went 3-for-4 to lead the Millers' eight-hit parade. He and Brock Welch scored twice each while Mike Nichols, Garrett Christman, Nevin Fansher and Sam Wides all crossed the plate once. Justin Holloway's two RBI's in the 7th was the confidence that Noblesville needed, but they were unfortunately outscored 2-1 in the two extra frames.
Starting pitcher Taran Murphy was roughed up in his four innings of work. He allowed 4 hits, 6 runs (all earned), while walking two and striking out a pair. Trevor Salmon contributed three innings, keeping Brownsburg in-check for the most part, only giving up two hits and one run (earned), to go with three K's. Brock Hammond and Mike Speek combined for two innings, Hammond suffered the loss for the Millers.
4A #2 Zionsville sweeps series with Noblesville
Zionsville brings quite the potent attack on the diamond this season. They aren't ranked second in Class 4A for nothing.
In Thursday's game at Zionsville, the host Eagles did nothing but hit the ball. Parker Dunshee nabbed a three-run double. Drew Small went 2-4 with a double. Cameron Richey scored twice. Ben Kocher scored twice, had a double, RBI and stole a base. Travis Tokerk and Jared Wentz each had an RBI to go along with Ryan Bertram's 2-3 night with and RBI-double.
It honestly left Noblesville beside itself when they were trying to figure out how to get back into the game. The Millers had six hitters in its lineup that tallied a hit and all but McLean reached base at least once. So, it was pretty much a chore keeping Zionsville off the bases. The end result last Thursday was Zionsville 8, Noblesville 3 at Zionsville.
Friday night's game was rained out and the two teams took to The Dunk (Dunker Field) at noon on Saturday, 4/21. Ben Kocher pitched six solid innings for the Eagles on the road to help shutdown the host Millers 8-1.
Troy Kuhn highlighted the Eagles at the dish by going 3-for-4, leaving himself a home run shy of hitting for the cycle, with a double, triple, along with two runs and two RBI's. Nick Barrientos also stroked an RBI-double and Joel Trewartha scored twice, including a solo home run.
DH Mike Nichols was the only bright spot in the Noblesville batting order last Saturday. The Miller DH went 2-3 with a double and the lone run for the hosts. John Cola was what sent Nichols home to score with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh.
Carmel keeps White River oar with 3-2 win at Noblesville
Aside from hitting Carmel catcher Clay Morrison twice in as many plate appearances, Taran Murphy was in complete control on the hill Monday night for the Millers in their White River Rivalry matchup with the Carmel Greyhounds. Murphy four total hits through 5.1 innings and struck out four Greyhounds.
Sophomore Drake Gardner was pitching for the visitors and didn't do a half bad job in his 4.2 innings. Gardner gave up five hits, two runs (both earned) and three walks. Jack Martin took over with two outs in the bottom of the fifth, eventually gaining the win.
Bottom of the fourth, Noblesville got itself on the scoreboard. 3B Luke Porter led off with a single to right center and reached second on the play because of a throwing error by Carmel CF Alex McManus. New Miller CF Andrew Wilson got his first varsity RBI, smacking a single to center, scoring Porter from second for a 1-0 Noblesville lead.
Noblesville got back at it with their bats in the bottom of the fifth. Garrett Christman walked to leadoff. After Fansher flied out to right, Mike Nichols roped a triple to the wall down the left field line, scoring Christman from first to give Noblesville a 2-0 lead.
Murphy let himself get a little rattled and it turned out to be a bad thing in the Carmel half of the sixth. Riley Miller hit a 2-2 pitch for a single to left. Kyle Fiala got his bat on the ball and shot a ball to right field, giving the Greyhounds runners at first and second. In what looked to be an easy out on a grounder to short, Jack Martin reached base on an error by Nick Vallier at short, scoring Miller to cut the gap to one. With Clay Morrison up and Brock Hammond pitching in relief, Hammond throws and ball in the dirt. Fiala scores on a passed ball to tie the game at 2-2.
Jeremy Faulkner grounded out to Hammond for the first out in the seventh, giving the senior reliever slightly more confidence than he had after he allowed two runs in to tie the game in the 6th. Pinch hitter Greg Williams hit a routine ground ball to third. Williams reached because of an error on the play by Porter overthrowing Fansher at first. Cameron Cruz flew out to left for the second out. On consecutive pitches, Williams stole second and wound up at third from another passed ball by Hammond. With a 1-2 count, McManus struck out swinging, but the ball went behind catcher Sam Wides, allowing Williams to score from third, giving Carmel a 3-2 edge.
Jack Martin was pretty much unstoppable on the mound in the sixth and seventh innings for Carmel, allowing just one hit. In the last of the seventh, Martin threw 9 total pitches, which forced three ground outs to end the ball game.
With the victory, Carmel moves its record to 6-7 overall and Noblesville drops to 3-12.
#Noblesville played at Lafayette Jeff on Tuesday, and host the Bronchos Thursday, followed by a Saturday night battle with 2A #7 Delphi (10-3). Those three games will be featured in Sunday's blog.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Cubs' 2012 start can be mended...in due time
Being the eternal optimist that I am, the Chicago Cubs' 4-12 record to start 2012 isn't the be all and end all of this young season. Yes, it does make for another long summer on the north side of Chicago, but people out there in the media act like we aren't used to it by now. And yes, we're all aware that it has been 103 seasons since the Cubs won a World Series and 66 since they've played in a World Series, dating back through the 2011 season.
The answers aren't going to necessarily going to come this season in the first year of the Theo Epstein/Jed Hoyer era in the Cubs front office. These things don't happen overnight, unfortunately. We just have to come to grips with it and deal with it for the time being.
Let's quickly analyze what's going on at each position...
Starting Rotation
Opening Day starter Ryan Dempster just started his first DL stint of the year. Randy Wells took his place in the rotation on Sunday, April 22 and threw well for five innings during his season debut. As of today, Monday, April 23, the rotation looks like this. Matt Garza moves up to the #1. Jeff Samardzija slides into the #2 slot. Chris Volstad, Paul Maholm and Randy Wells round out the bottom 3.
Bullpen
16 games into the season, I would say that the Cubs' bullpen is sub-par at best. James Russell, Rafael Dolis, Luis Castillo, Shawn Camp, Scott Maine and newly signed Rodrigo Lopez all contribute to middle releft roles in the bullpen. Carlos Marmol is the current closer, but we all know that he can be a bit shaky, even with a lead.
Catcher
Geovany Soto is going to be the main starter behind the plate, but there are going to be some games when backup Steve Clevenger will start, due to the fact that his left-handed bat will match-up better against the opposing pitcher.
First Base
Jeff Baker started two of the first three games of the season in the opening series vs. the Nationals at Wrigley, but it was mainly because of pitching match-ups and I don't think that manager Dale Sveum was fully sold on the combination of Bryan LaHair's bat and glove being in the lineup at the same time. The two will share time at first base until one shows more promise, which more than likely will be LaHair.
Second Base
Darwin Barney, enough said. The guy is coming into his own fully and is trying to bring Castro with him when it comes to working their way to becoming on of the best double play combos in the league.
Shortstop
Starlin Castro is setting records for hits by a player his age and he's only going to get better. His only problem is his fielding. He committed 35 errors in 2011 and seems that he's well on his way to that total and possibly beyond, if he keeps it up.
Third Base
Ian Stewart was brought here from Colorado to "replace" Aramis Ramirez. To be honest, you don't just replace a guy like Aramis. I'm guessing that Stewart, Joe Mather and Jeff Baker will all have their turns at the "hot corner" throughout the season.
Left Field
Alfonso Soriano is the guy in left until his contract is up, that is. He needs to get his bat going and quit chasing pitches that are out of the zone and he'll get back to the Soriano of old and be hitting the ball at a .300 clip again.
Center Field
With Marlon Byrd now a member of the Boston Red Sox, it will be a daily wonder of who's gonna patrol the grass out in center. Tony Campana was just recalled from Triple-A Iowa this past weekend. He will also share time with Reed Johnson, mainly, and Joe Mather.
Right Field
David DeJesus was brought to Chicago from Philly for many reasons. I couldn't figure them out during the off-season, but he's now showing why. He's turned into a good leadoff hitter and a great fielder. Hopefully more good things to come out of DeJesus in his first season with the Cubs.
Only time will tell what will happen with the 2012 Cubs. Yes, they're 4-12 to start, but there are still 146 games left in the regular season. Epstein will make some moves.
Go Cubs Go!
The answers aren't going to necessarily going to come this season in the first year of the Theo Epstein/Jed Hoyer era in the Cubs front office. These things don't happen overnight, unfortunately. We just have to come to grips with it and deal with it for the time being.
Let's quickly analyze what's going on at each position...
Starting Rotation
Opening Day starter Ryan Dempster just started his first DL stint of the year. Randy Wells took his place in the rotation on Sunday, April 22 and threw well for five innings during his season debut. As of today, Monday, April 23, the rotation looks like this. Matt Garza moves up to the #1. Jeff Samardzija slides into the #2 slot. Chris Volstad, Paul Maholm and Randy Wells round out the bottom 3.
Bullpen
16 games into the season, I would say that the Cubs' bullpen is sub-par at best. James Russell, Rafael Dolis, Luis Castillo, Shawn Camp, Scott Maine and newly signed Rodrigo Lopez all contribute to middle releft roles in the bullpen. Carlos Marmol is the current closer, but we all know that he can be a bit shaky, even with a lead.
Catcher
Geovany Soto is going to be the main starter behind the plate, but there are going to be some games when backup Steve Clevenger will start, due to the fact that his left-handed bat will match-up better against the opposing pitcher.
First Base
Jeff Baker started two of the first three games of the season in the opening series vs. the Nationals at Wrigley, but it was mainly because of pitching match-ups and I don't think that manager Dale Sveum was fully sold on the combination of Bryan LaHair's bat and glove being in the lineup at the same time. The two will share time at first base until one shows more promise, which more than likely will be LaHair.
Second Base
Darwin Barney, enough said. The guy is coming into his own fully and is trying to bring Castro with him when it comes to working their way to becoming on of the best double play combos in the league.
Shortstop
Starlin Castro is setting records for hits by a player his age and he's only going to get better. His only problem is his fielding. He committed 35 errors in 2011 and seems that he's well on his way to that total and possibly beyond, if he keeps it up.
Third Base
Ian Stewart was brought here from Colorado to "replace" Aramis Ramirez. To be honest, you don't just replace a guy like Aramis. I'm guessing that Stewart, Joe Mather and Jeff Baker will all have their turns at the "hot corner" throughout the season.
Left Field
Alfonso Soriano is the guy in left until his contract is up, that is. He needs to get his bat going and quit chasing pitches that are out of the zone and he'll get back to the Soriano of old and be hitting the ball at a .300 clip again.
Center Field
With Marlon Byrd now a member of the Boston Red Sox, it will be a daily wonder of who's gonna patrol the grass out in center. Tony Campana was just recalled from Triple-A Iowa this past weekend. He will also share time with Reed Johnson, mainly, and Joe Mather.
Right Field
David DeJesus was brought to Chicago from Philly for many reasons. I couldn't figure them out during the off-season, but he's now showing why. He's turned into a good leadoff hitter and a great fielder. Hopefully more good things to come out of DeJesus in his first season with the Cubs.
Only time will tell what will happen with the 2012 Cubs. Yes, they're 4-12 to start, but there are still 146 games left in the regular season. Epstein will make some moves.
Go Cubs Go!
Friday, April 13, 2012
Millers swept by Fishers, Carmel next on slate
Game 1 (Wednesday) Fishers 4, Noblesville 3
After dropping four straight on their spring break trip in Knoxville, Tennessee, the diamond Millers came home to try and get things off on the right foot in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference. Wednesday at Fishers was their first test and quite the test it was.
Starter Ben Yoder seemed pretty dialed in the first couple of innings, only allowing one base runner via a walk. The Tigers figured out Yoder in the third. Catcher Clay Small began the 3rd with a walk on the first four pitches. The following pitch to Jon Cordell was grounded up the middle and knocked down by Yoder at the mound. He picked the ball up and instinctively threw to second in attempt to force out Small, but his throw was rushed and late. Cordell reached first on a fielder’s choice (not a hit, like the Fishers scoreboard read) and Small advanced to second, but was out on the play as Wides decided to get the lead runner out at third. Parker Lasch got aboard with an infield single. Garrett Schlotter also got on base with a fielder’s choice, loading the bases. Drew Clark pinch hit for Blake Baumgartner and made his hitting presence felt right away. Clark smoked a three-run double down the left field line, scoring Cordell, Lasch and Schlotter for a 3-0 Fishers lead.
It was Noblesville’s turn to do some scoring. DH Garrett Welch led the fourth off with a nice bloop single over Lasch at short and into shallow left-center. Garrett Christman and Mike Nichols both reached with one-out walks to load to bases with Millers. John Cola drove home Welch with an RBI single into right field. Brian McLean hit a two-run single to left. Cameron VanderBerg misplayed the ball and it allowed both Christman and Nichols to trot home to tie the Tigers 3-3 after four.
Yoder (4.2 innings) and reliever Brock Hammond (2.1 innings) kept Fishers pretty much in-check from that point. The two combined for 7 strikeouts and 4 hits over the final three frames, but it was the last of Hammond’s three allowed hits that was the most crucial.
Hammond got slightly rattled in the bottom of the sixth, allowing Fishers to start off with a double and a walk from the first two hitters. Brock struck out the side from that point, leaving two Tigers stranded.
Noblesville went 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh, with Wides, Nevin Fansher and Welch flying out to center, right and left, respectively.
Hammond struck out Schlotter to start and it seemed that he had full intention of sending this game to extras. The meat of the Tiger order had other plans. Matt Woolwine singled to right-center and Clark walked to put two on with one out for Fishers. DH JP Pena was 0-2 with a walk before his seventh inning at-bat. With a 1-2 count, Pena drilled a walk-off single to right center. Woolwine is quick enough that he tested the arm of CF Steven Jones, but Jones’ throw wouldn’t have been in time. Woolwine crossed the plate, giving Fishers a 4-3 win.
Game 2 (Thursday) Fishers 7, Noblesville 0
Drew Clark kept his bat hot from the night before, leading off the game with a bloop single over Nevin Fansher’s head and just beyond the third base bag. Garrett Schlotter and Matt Woolwine struck out in consecutive at-bats. JP Pena walked and Pena/Clark were driven in by a Cameron VanderBerg two-run double just inside fair territory down the right field line. Jon Simonett accounted for Murphy’s third K of the inning, but it was a 3-0 deficit before the Millers even picked up their bats.
Fishers starter Justin Rhodes did exactly what head coach Matthew Cherry asked of him. Rhodes didn’t allow his first base runner until the 4th inning and that was when LF Brian McLean reached on a throwing error by third baseman Jon Cordell, only to be left stranded at second base.
I don’t think that Taran’s arm was getting tired, but I think that Fishers slowly but surely got in the heads of the Miller defense as a whole. Parker Lasch led the fifth off reaching base with a throwing error on Murphy. With one out, Blake Baumgartner came in to pinch hit for Jon Cordell at and play third. Baumgartner blooped a single into shallow right center, giving the Tigers two on. Drew Clark and pinch hitter Ben Pritchett both reached by way of the fielder’s choice, scoring Lasch. Bases were loaded for Matt Woolwine and this veteran hitter knew exactly what to do. The senior centerfielder Woolwine smacked a two-run triple down into the left field corner, scoring Baumgartner and Clark. JP Pena then roped an RBI single to center to end the Fishers scoring for the fifth and the game, sending Woolwine across the plate to put Fishers up by what would be the final score of 7-0.
Noblesville’s bats went 2-for-7 in the sixth and seventh innings, but couldn’t muster enough offense to produce any runs that would help them rally on Thursday night at The Dunk.
Miller relievers Mike Speek and Brock Masterson faced a combined seven Fishers hitters, with four of those becoming strikeout victims and allowing only two runners aboard.
Taran Murphy has been quite the surprise in the Noblesville pitching rotation. Murphy struck out 11 Fishers hitters Thursday night in his 5 innings of work.
The win moves Fishers to 9-3 (2-0 HCC) and drops Noblesville to 2-8 (0-2 HCC) on their respective seasons.
It’s time for the Noblesville Millers to fully “right their ship,” so to speak. Coach Keever has been experimenting with many different lineup changes throughout the first 10 games. Shifting different players to different parts of the batting order to figure out where players hit best is certainly a frustrating thing for a baseball coach. Patience is going to be the key for the Miller coaching staff. Things will get better and that will happen on Saturday at Dunker Field.
The battle for the White River Rivalry is at The Dunk at 7pm Saturday evening vs. the Carmel Greyhounds. I have a gut feeling that Saturday’s game against Carmel is the game that is going to for sure wake up the bats of the Noblesville Millers! GO MILLERS!!!
Sunday, April 1, 2012
2012 Noblesville Classic: Homestead wins 2nd straight title
2012 Noblesville Classic
Game 1: Homestead 3, Noblesville 0
Just one bad inning can doom a team to where it mentally may not let itself get back into the game in either facet. If the Noblesville Millers could erase what happened defensively against the Homestead Spartans in the 1st inning, they would do it in a heartbeat. This is exactly what happened in the opening game of the 2012 Noblesville Classic meeting between Homestead and host Noblesville.
Austin Plasterer led things off reaching on a throwing error by 2B Nick Miller. Andre Jernigan got on board with an infield single. Pitcher Jake Weber was then walked by Miller hurler Ben Yoder, giving Homestead bases loaded with one out. Yoder walked Michael Redden on four straight pitches, putting the Spartans up 1-0. Their first inning scoring parade continued when Nathan Miller reached base on a ground ball to Nick Miller at second. Miller committed his second throwing error of the inning. This error allowed Jernigan and Weber to score, giving Homestead a 3-0 lead after just the first half inning.
Jake Weber kept Noblesville’s bats quiet for the first few innings. Sam Wides reached on an error in the third, but was caught stealing second base. Freshman Brian McLean got the first of his two singles in the fourth, but was left stranded. The Millers gave it one final attempt in the bottom of the seventh. Garrett Welch struck out swinging, but reached first base on a passed ball on his third strike. DH Mike Nichols flied out to right field. Welch didn’t tag up. Instead, he ran toward second like he didn’t know that there weren’t any outs. Welch was doubled up at first by Brandon Soat’s throw from foul territory in right. Garrett Christman singled, but was left on base as John Cola struck out looking to end the ball game.
Jake Weber struck out 9 Miller hitters. Ben Yoder had 12 K’s for the host Millers. RF Brandon Soat led Homestead, going 2-for-4 with 3 singles, reaching base three times. Brian McLean and Garrett Christman combined for the Millers’ three hits.
Game 2: Cincinnati Moeller 10, Chicago De La Salle 2
The Cincinnati Moeller Crusaders had no trouble at all with the Chicago De La Salle, dominating the Meteors by the count of 10-2. All but two Moeller hitters tallied a hit and also, all but two hitters scored for the Crusaders. SS Jordan Simpson, 1B Zack Shannon and RF Nick Edwards combined to hit 7-for-13 and score six of the 10 runs, including 3 singles by Edwards and a two-run homer over the left center wall from the bat of Shannon. Moeller’s win moved them to 4-1 and De La Salle dropped its record to 6-3.
Game 3: Noblesville 2, Chicago De La Salle 0
Noblesville’s Taran Murphy took the mound where he left off Tuesday night when he struck out 7 Northfield hitters. Murphy mowed down 6 Meteors on Saturday afternoon in a three-hit shutout of De La Salle, 2-0 in the Consolation game of the Noblesville Classic.
Murph allowed three total base runners in his first 5 innings of work and just two hits in that span. Taran was in total control of the De La Salle hitters.
The Miller scoring wasn’t a lot, but it was enough to defeat the Meteors and hopefully instill a great deal of confidence for the upcoming week’s Spring Break trip to Tennessee.
3B Luke Porter got things going in the third with a one out infield single. Sam Wides advanced Porter to second with a bloop single into shallow left. Two batters later, John Cola knocked Porter home with an RBI single for a 1-0 Miller lead. Garrett Christman got his own infield single in the 4th. He scored on Luke Porter’s single, giving the Millers a 2-0 lead, which turned out to be the final score.
Cola, Christman, Wides, Mike Nichols and Porter combined for Noblesville’s hitting attack. It wasn’t the greatest output, but it was enough to keep Chicago’s De La Salle in check and scoreless.
The win improves Noblesville’s record to 2-2. De La Salle drops to 6-4 on their season.
The Millers take the road on their Spring Break trip and have quite a challenge ahead this week. Thursday, they’ll play at Lindsey Neslon Stadium at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville vs. Science Hill in the first game of the Kessler’s Classic. After that, they play Jefferson County, Ooltewah and another opponent that is yet to be determined.
Game 4: Championship game…Homestead 11, Cincinnati Moeller 4
Homestead was looking to defending their title of the first Noblesville Classic they won in 2011, but it wasn’t going to be an easy task against a 4-1 Moeller squad.
The Crusaders got started right away. A two-out double by Riley Mahan to the right field corner got a rise out of the Moeller bench. Cameron Whitehead drove Mahan home with a gapper to left center for a 1-0 lead.
After going 1-2-3 in the second, Moeller starter Ryan LeFevers got more than just rattled on the mound. Jake Weber led off with a walk that took nine pitches. A Michael Redden single moved Weber to second. Tyler Zimske struck out swinging, but advanced to first on a passed ball, loading the bases. Catcher Nathan Miller hit a sacrifice fly to left center that scored Weber from third. With Redden and Zimske and second and first, respectively, Josh Caccamo dropped down a sacrifice bunt advancing the two one base each. Matt Volz singled on a hit to shallow center, but the runners stayed aboard, for some odd reason. Austin Plasterer drove in Redden with a single. Brandon Soat hit a single to right, sending Zimske home to score, giving Homestead a commanding 5-1 lead after two innings.
Moeller looked like they were trying to put a dent in that four run deficit. Brian Butz led off with a walk. That was haulted by the great defensive play of Homestead SS Andre Jernigan. With one out, Justin Wampler hit a sharp grounder to Jernigan at short. The ball was hard-hit enough that Jernigan was knocked on his butt, but he tossed the ball to second and Plasterer then to first to complete a dramatic double play to ignite the Spartans.
Redden hit a single just over the infield into shallow left field to lead off. Nathan Miller and Josh Caccamo also singled to load the bases. Volz hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Redden. Plasterer singled to once again load the bases. Brandon Soat cleared the bases with a three-run double on a one-hop hit to deep right center. That big inning widened the gap to 9-1 in favor of Homestead.
Cincinnati Moeller was set to rally in the fifth. Jimmy Rodenberg walked and advanced to second on a grounder to the mound. Ty Amann singled and eventually scored on a passed ball that brought the score to 9-3. Moeller got one more crack at the plate. After three walks to get the Crusaders’ confidence up, Brad Macciocchi hit a sac fly to center, scoring Spencer Iavocone.
Homestead decided it was time to “put the nail in the coffin” on this Noblesville Classic title. Zimske walked, followed by Joe Ault getting plunked on the head, right on his earhole, giving the Spartans two base runners aboard. Austin Plasterer finished off the Homestead scoring with a two-run triple that turned out to be the dagger. Andy Harkness pitched the sixth and seventh, sealing up the 11-4 victory for Homestead, giving them their second straight Noblesville Classic championship.
Austin Plasterer was the star at the plate in the championship, going 5-for-5 with four singles, a two-run triple and 3 RBI’s. Not far behind him in the stat categories was Brandon Soat, who was 2-5 with 4 RBI’s.
Homestead stayed its course and is now 4-0 after the Noblesville Classic championship. Cincinnati Moeller is 4-2.
2012 NOBLESVILLE CLASSIC: ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
P Jake Weber (Homestead) – 9 strikeouts, 2 hits, walk, shutout
P Ben Yoder (Noblesville) – 12 strikeouts, 3 hits, two walks
P Zach Williams (Moeller) – 9 strikeouts, 6 hits, 2 runs, 0 walks
P Taran Murphy (Noblesville) – 6 strikeouts, 3 hits, walk, shutout
C Brad Macciocchi (Moeller) – 1-for-6, single, RBI,
1B Zack Shannon (Moeller) – 2-for-6, 2-run HR, single, two runs/RBIs
2B Austin Plasterer (Homestead) – 6-for-9, triple, 5 singles, 3 RBIs
SS Andre Jernigan (Homestead) – 2-for-7, run, RBI, 2 assists, putout
3B Luke Porter (Noblesville) – 2-for-2, run, RBI, 4 assists, putout
OF Brian McLean (Noblesville) – 2-for-5, two singles
OF Brandon Soat (Homestead) – 4-for-9, 4 RBIs, double, 3 singles
OF Nick Edwards (Moeller) – 3-for-4, 3 runs, 3 singles, putout
Util Garrett Christman (Noblesville) – 2-for-5, run, 4 assists
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