Wednesday 5/2 at Dunker Field: Noblesville 4, McCutcheon 2
This was Step #1 in what brought Noblesville to what they are today. McCutcheon came into the game at The Dunk 13-3 overall and tied with Zionsville for the HCC lead.
First baseman Christian Vukas led off the top of the second for the Mavericks with a solo HR to left with a 3-1 count on him. Ben Yoder held the Mavs in check the next three frames following the Vukas home run.
The Millers' bats got going in the 4th inning. Luke Porter and Andrew Wilson struck out and flied out to center, respectively to start. Nick Vallier sent the next pitch to left center for a single. Mike Nichols walked and Nevin Fansher was hit by a pitch to give Noblesville bases loaded. Garrett Welch nabbed his second hit of the game, this being a two-run single to left center, scoring both Vallier and Nichols to put NHS up 2-1.
McCutcheon got that run back in the top of the fifth. Logan Sowers doubled to deep center on the second pitch from Yoder. After two straight ground outs, Yoder showed signs of a struggle. Walking three Maverick hitters in row, Sowers crossed home on the third walk, to knot things at 2-2.
Noblesville wanted to put things in the hands of reliever/closer Brock Hammond, but first had to make their move at the plate in the bottom of the sixth. Luke Porter started off with a base hit to right center. Andrew Wilson walked. Vallier popped out to the catcher Cody Strong. Mike Nichols drilled a double to left center, sending Porter home as the game-winning run. That allowed Wilson to advance to third. Nevin Fansher hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Wilson for the final score of 4-2.
McCutcheon wasn't done trying to come back in the top of the seventh. Justin Curry reached on an infield single to lead off. Zach Tippy hit a very playable ball to Vallier at SS, but it was misplayed by the senior, giving the Mavs two on base. Mason Bruce struck out. Cody Strong walked to load the bags for the visitors, but that didn't phase Brock Hammond one bit. With a 2-1 count, Jesse Quintanilla hit a sharp grounder to Porter at third. The junior 3B stepped on the base and threw across the diamond for the double play to end the game! Millers win, 4-2! Ben Yoder got a no decision, but struck out 6 in 4.2 innings. Taran Murphy earned the win and only pitched 1.2 innings in relief, but fanned 4 of the 7 hitters he faced. Hammond earned the save.
The Millers swept the series with the Mavericks on Thursday 5/3 at McCutcheon with a 9-8 victory on the road.
Friday 5/4 at Avon: Noblesville 12, Avon 0 and Saturday 5/5 at The Dunk: Noblesville 6, Avon 3
Unfortunately, I was unable to see this sweep of the Avon Orioles. I kept track of the diamond Millers on Twitter and was a pretty happy camper while visiting family in Denver, Colorado for the weekend.
Tuesday 5/8 at Hamilton Southeastern: Hamilton Southeastern 5, Noblesville 2
Trailing 1-0 heading into the top of the 6th, the Millers had to get something going offensively. The did so, scoring two runs to gain a 2-1 lead, but that only fueled the fire for the Royals. Hamilton Southeastern plated four runs in the bottom half of the sixth. HSE closed out the Millers in the top of the seventh, crushing any hope of a comeback.
Thursday 5/10 at The Dunk: Hamilton Southeastern 2, Noblesville 1
There weren't many bright spots for either team offensively in this HCC matchup. HSE pitcher Jake Kowal only struck out three Millers, but that wasn't what mattered to him that night. He allowed six hits, three walks, but just one run, which was the major factor.
Tre Gantt took the first pitch of the 2nd and hit a hard ground ball to second, Garrett Christman played the hop wrong and Gantt reached on an error. He later scored HSE's first run on a passed ball.
Noblesville tied things up with two outs in the 4th. Christman was hit by a Kowal pitch and stole second with Vallier up to bat. Vallier singled to right center, driving home GC for a 1-1 tie.
A lead off triple down the right field line by Mitch Roman ignited the Royals. Catcher Sean Green was intentionally walked without a pitch thrown for the second straight plate appearance. With runners at the corners and two outs on the scoreboard, all was favoring Yoder on the mound. Trying to pick off Roman at third, Yoder throws the ball away from Porter and Roman scores the winning run on the error.
Noblesville gave it one last try in the home half of the seventh. Justin Holloway had a pinch hit single to left, but was stranded at second base to end the game, giving HSE a two-garme series sweep of the Millers.
2012 Noblesville Classic
Game 1: Noblesville 6, Mississinewa 1
Mississinewa might have taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, but it sure didn't last long at all. Every Miller batted once as Noblesville had a five-run second on four hits. Mike Nichols walked, followed by Garrett Christman singling for two on. Vallier smacked an two-run double to deep right center in the gap, sending Nichols and Christman home with ease for a 2-1 lead. Vallier stole third and one pitch later touched home himself on a sacrifice fly by Nevin Fansher. Sam Wides and Luke Porter both singled and scored to round out the five-run inning.
Noblesville finished their scoring vs. the Indians on a fielder's choice by Vallier. Garrett Christman had already singled, then scored when Vallier reached via the fielder's choice. That gave the Millers their final score of 6-1.
Brock Masterson threw a tremendous game, striking out 12, allowing just three hits, one run and walked none in 7 innings.
Game 2: Hamilton Heights 4, Twin Lakes 3
It started out as a pitchers' duel between Hamilton Heights' Spencer Dull and Twin Lakes' Jordan Crabb for the first four solid innings. HH scored in the top of the fifth with Tyler Anderson's RBI single that scored Jeff Carr. Twin Lakes tied it up with first baseman Andrew Topp scoring on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Mac Gardiner, tying the game at 1-1/
Heights got three straight RBI hits from Tyler Anderson, Colton Elbrecht and Landon Cunningham to give the Huskies a 4-1 lead. Twin Lakes had one last shot. They also had two consecutive RBI hits by Jacob Shane and Gardiner, scoring Jordan Crabb and Zach Diener, but they fell one run of trying Hamilton Heights and lost 4-3.
Game 3: Twin Lakes 4, Mississinewa 1
Twin Lakes pitcher Andrew Topp took total command of the Consolation game. In a game that didn't really matter on the day, as a whole. We almost saw a no hitter, but that thought only lasted 4 1/3 innings. TL put together a four-run fourth and that kept them going defensively to hold on for their seventh win of 2012.
2012 Noblesville Classic Championship: Noblesville 6, Hamilton Heights 2
It's always a great matchup with Hamilton Heights and Noblesville, no matter what sport they meet up in. This was no different last Saturday night under the lights at Dunker Field.
Steven Jones scored Noblesville's first run in the 3rd when Luke Porter reached base on an error by second baseman Landon Cunningham.
They plated three more in the bottom of the fifth, showing Husky pitcher Tyler Anderson what Millerball was all about! Jones had a one-out triple to deep left center. He scored two pitches later on Sam Wides' double to left center. Porter tripled for an extra base hit of his own, sending Wides home. Porter scored eventually to give Noblesville a comfortable 4-0 cushion through five innings.
Hamilton Heights rattled Taran Murphy in the sixth, despite the great game he had thrown up to that point. Murphy struck out 8 Huskies total in his 5.2 innings. Nic Pickett double to start the 6th and was driven home by an Ethan Engelhardt double. Engelhardt scored on Logan Cunningham's single, closing the Miller lead to 4-2.
The Millers tacked on two more runs to seal the deal in the sixth. Vallier doubled to deep center with one out. Fansher drove Vallier home with a single to left. The next pitch to Steven Jones helped Fansher cross home, giving Noblesville their final score of 6-2 and a second straight Noblesville Classic championship!
2012 Noblesville Classic: All-Tournament team
P Brock Masterson (Noblesville): 7 IP, 12 K's, 0 walks, 3 hits, 1 run (unearned)
P Taran Murphy (Noblesville): 5.2 IP, 8 K's, 0 walks, 4 hits, 2 runs (both earned)
P Andrew Topp (Twin Lakes): 7 IP, 5 K's, 2 walks (1 HBP), 3 hits, 1 run (unearned)
P Jordan Crabb (Twin Lakes): 7 IP, 10 K's
C Sam Wides (Noblesville): 2-7, RBI-2B, 2 runs. (Two assists, putout)
1B Nevin Fansher (Noblesville): 1-6, 2 RBI's, run, SB. (14 putouts)
2B Garrett Christman (Noblesville): 3-5, 2 runs, 3 singles. ( Two assists, putout)
SS Nick Vallier (Noblesville): 2-5, two 2B's, two runs, RBI. (4 assists, putout)
3B Luke Porter (Noblesville): 4-6, 2 runs, RBI, 2 singles, double, triple, 3 SB's. (2 assists, putout)
LF Mac Gardiner (Twin Lakes): 3-6, run, RBI, 3 singles
CF Steven Jones (Noblesville): 4-6, 2 runs, RBU, triple, 3 singles (2 putouts)
RF Ethan Engelhardt (Ham. Heights): 3-7, 2 runs, RBI, 2 singles, 2B (3 putouts)
5/14 at The Dunk: Noblesville 7, Westfield 4
Westfield struck first in the third. Nine-hole hitter Jake Dietz singled to right center to lead off. Nathan Manworren moved Dietz into scoring position with a single down the right field line, giving Westfield runners at second and third. Alec Nelson drove home Dietz on a ground out to third and Manworren scored on a double by Nick Saldutti for a 2-0 Shamrock lead.
The Millers answered right back with authority. Jones doubled to right center. Wides dropped down a perfect bunt single for runners at first and third. Luke Porter walked to load the bases with Millers. Andrew Wilson roped a two-run single to center to tie the game at 2-2. Porter scored on a fielder's choice by Garrett Welch for a 3-2 Noblesville lead.
NHS added another run to their total when Wides drove in Vallier in the bottom of the 4th for a 4-2 edge.
The Rocks made it a 4-3 game with Saldutti scoring on a Wade Burtron double down the left field line.
Just as Westfield got to Kent Williams, Noblesville got to Mike McBride. Porter led off the 5th with a single and scored on a Welch single to center. GW scored on Garrett Christman's double to right to put the Millers up 6-3 after five.
With one out in the sixth, Jones walked. Wides was hit by a pitch. Jones and Wides then combined on a double steal, advancing themselves to third and second, respectively. Porter grounded out to second, but Jones trotted home with ease for a 7-3 NHS lead.
Westfield had one last shot in the top of the 7th. I played AC/DC's "Hell's Bells" as Brock Hammond replaced sophomore reliever Trevor Salmon in the top of the 7th. Lately, it seems to be a motivator, like it used to for future MLB Hall of Famer Trevor Hoffman. Alec Nelson got aboard with an error by Steven Jones in center. Saldutti walked. Burtron bunted to move Nelson to third and into scoring position. Jake Celleghin walked to give the Rocks runners on all bases, putting Hammond in a somewhat rare position. DH Brandon Gray hit the ball to short. Vallier double pumped the ball in his glove, giving the senior shortstop an error, scoring Nelson. Ethan Stelts pinch hit with two outs and Hammond K'd him in four pitches, securing the Miller win.
5/15 at Westfield: Westfield 2, Noblesville 0
Ben Yoder and Wade Burtron had themselves in quite the pitcher's duel through the first five frames Tuesday night at Westfield. Burtron would up with 7 K's and Yoder totaled 9 in his 5.1 innings of work.
The 6th inning is what doomed Noblesville defensively. Yoder struck out freshman catcher Bailey Partlow to lead off. Saldutti walked on 8 pitches. Burtron reached on an infield single. The two advanced to second and third on Alec Nelson's groundout to short. This now gave the Millers two outs and hoping to get out of the inning without allowing a run. The luck went the way of the host Shamrocks on Tuesday night. Brandon Gray hit a routine fly ball to Andrew Wilson in right. Wilson came down with the ball with what looked to be the third out. As soon as the sophomore right fielder took a step, he failed to close his glove, dropping the ball for an error. Saldutti and Burtron scored for a 2-0 Westfield lead, which would turn out to be the final score.
Garrett Christman led the top of the 7th off with a single, but was left stranded. Vallier, pinch-hitter Justin Holloway and Steven Jones all went down in order to end the game and a possible threat by the Millers.
The Westfield win split the series in consecutive nights. Garrett Christman's 3-for-3 effort, all singles and Luke Porer's triple in the third were the lone bright spots offensively. Ben Yoder's 9 K outing keeps him in the Top 10 in strikeouts in the state of Indiana.
The split with Westfield drops Noblesville to 11-17 overall and 6-9 in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference. Thursday night vs. Harrison marks Senior Night for 12 Millers with first pitch at 6:00 at The Dunk. Friday night, Noblesville heads to Harrison for a 6:00 game to end the regular season.
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