Millers split with Westfield; Derek Asuras throws 2nd career no-hitter

Westfield 9, Noblesville 6 (Monday)

As much as he gets on base, he should be happier about being walked. That simply means that the opposing pitchers respect his hitting abilities as a leadoff hitter and don’t want to give him good pitches to hit. Most players would kill to be on base as much as DA is and I think he relishes the amount of opportunities that he gets on the base path. That seems to be the case with Noblesville leadoff hitter Derek Asuras.

In Monday night’s game at Westfield, he did just that, walked to lead off the game. He stole second with Tanner Watson at the plate. Watson singled, advancing Asuras to third. DA then scored with ease, sliding home on a passed ball. On that play, Watson moved over to third. Then, on a 3-1 count, Jameson Brock roped an RBI-single to shallow left center, giving Noblesville a 2-0 lead.

Catcher Sam Wides led things off in the 2^nd with a swinging strikeout, but climbed aboard first with the third strike being dropped in the dirt by Westfield catcher Mike McBride, allowing Wides to reach first. With Asuras back up, McBride allowed two more passed balls and Sam wound up at third with no outs. Asuras knew exactly what to do. He hit a ball deep enough to right field for a sacrifice fly, driving the NHS catcher in from third for a 3-0 Miller lead.

From my vantage point halfway down the first base side, I could tell that the Noblesville outfielders were playing a little shallower that they normally do. So, what happened to lead off the Shamrocks’ half of the second? Wade Burtron sailed a 1-1 pitch to deep left center and over the head of CF Caleb Shore for a leadoff triple. Burtron tried to score on a passed ball, but Wides tossed to pitcher Kent Williams in time to tag the Westfield CF out at the plate.

Nick Saldutti walked and reached second on an Andrew McCafferty single to center. Both advanced to third and second, respectively, because of an apparent balk call on Williams at the mound. The plate umpire claimed that Kent basically bounced his glove up and down twice and then proceeded to motion toward home plate. Saldutti cut the Miller lead to 3-1 by scoring from third on a passed ball, which brought McCafferty to third. With one out, McCafferty thought he could possibly score from third, which is not the smartest thought he could have had at that moment. Alec Nelson hit a one out fly ball to Jameson Brock in left. Brock caught the ball for the second out and gunned down McCafferty at the plate with a one bounce throw and it was into Wides’ glove, waiting to tag McCafferty out to end the inning.

That throw fired up Brock. He stroked an 0-1 pitch to left for his second hit. Austin Ramey also singled on the very next pitch. Caleb Shore laid down a beautiful sacrifice bunt to advance Brock and Ramey to third and second, respectively. With Brock Hammond striking out, Seth Rayle walked, loading the bases with two outs. The pressure was getting to Westfield pitcher T.J. Ehrman, it was quite obvious. Then, with a full count, Wides walked to drive in Brock from third. Two pitches later, Asuras broke open the score with a two-run single to right that drove home Ramey and Rayle for a 6-1 Noblesville lead through three innings.

Westfield had seen enough Miller scoring. Andy Gehr grounded out to third to start the fourth. Burtron and Saldutti both walked and McCafferty was hit by a pitch by Kent Williams to load the bases full of Shamrocks. Brandon Gray reached first on a fielder’s choice that was hit to Ramey at first. Ramey threw home to force out Burtron coming home from third. Alec Nelson walked, scoring Saldutti. Noblesville relief pitcher Ben Yoder came in during the 4^th inning and inherited a 1-0 count when he faced Mike McBride. The first pitch that McBride saw from Yoder, he laced a two-run double to the wall, making the score 6-5 Noblesville after four innings.

The Rocks weren’t done with their rally. They scored three more in the bottom of the 5^th inning. Gehr hit a one-out single to right center and Burtron walked. Saldutti then smashed a 1-1 Yoder pitch to deep right, almost leaving the park, giving him a triple with ease. That drove home Gehr and Burtron to give Westfield a 7-6 edge. Saldutti scored on a passed ball for an 8-6 lead.

Noblesville went quietly in the 5^th and 6^th innings, with only six plate appearances.

Alec Nelson reached via an error on Austin Ramey at first to start off the bottom of the sixth and was sitting on second from a sacrifice bunt by Mike McBride. Gehr hit a ball just over the head of Seth Rayle at SS to score Nelson for the final score of 9-6 for a Westfield win.

The Millers did manage a single from Shore to lead off the 7^th and Brock Hammond was hit by a Saldutti pitch for two runners on base and in scoring position. Rayle lined out to second base. Patrick Rader pinch hit for Wides, flying out in foul territory down the right field line. Asuras flied out to center to end the game and the Millers final threat.

Despite the fact that Noblesville left 10 runners on base, there was a positive that can come out of this tough loss. Yes, they gave up a total of 7 runs on three hits, four walks, an HBP and a fielder’s choice in the fourth and fifth innings combined. The positive that the Millers can take back to Dunker Field for Tuesday night’s second game of the series, is that Jameson Brock is back in the Noblesville starting lineup. He rejoined Shore and Asuras to patrol the outfield after serving a 9 game suspension for the violation of team rules.

Noblesville 5, Westfield 0 (Tuesday)

Derek Asuras – 2^nd career no-hitter

When a pitcher is completely in the zone, they’re no where but in the zone. They have tunnel vision. They stay focused. Nothing else is on his mind, but the game itself. He sits by himself in the dugout. Most importantly, while he’s not allowing a single hit by the opponent, no one, absolutely no one in the dugout speaks a word of him not giving up a single hit. It’s considered a curse or jinx to talk about it in any way. Bottom line.

Derek Asuras was dialed in, to say the least, as he took the mound as the starting pitcher for the final time in a home game at Donald J. Dunker Field. He struck out five of the first seven Westfield hitters that he faced. Alec Nelson’s groundout to Dewey Rodgers at third accounted for Asuras retiring the first 8 that he faced. DH Nathan Manworren was hit by a pitch, followed by Jake Celleghin reached via an error by Rodgers, stranding two base runners in the third for the Shamrocks.

Asuras wasn’t alone in being focused on the mound. His opponent Eddie Tomich allowed just two hits through 5-plus innings of work, including five walks while striking out just two Miller hitters.

Tomich was replaced by relief pitcher Andy Gehr in the 6^th, Rodgers at second and Brock at first. Austin Ramey singled to left, scoring Dewey from third to break the scoreless tie in the bottom of the sixth. It was a repeat performance by Caleb Shore in the very next at-bat, an RBI single to left, scoring Brock. Patrick Rader rifled a two-run double to left field, plating Nevin Fansher (pinch-running for Ramey) and Shore. Asuras helped his own cause by drilling an RBI single to center to score Rader from second. Noblesville scored five times on six hits to take a 5-0 lead to the top of the 7^th inning.

With DA back on the mound to try and finish up what he started, the Miller defense tightened up for him and I think he greatly appreciated it. Brandon Gray flied out to center for the first out. Alec Nelson reached first on an error by shortstop Tanner Watson. Manworren struck out for the second out. Pinch hitter Ethan Stelts was facing an 0-2 hole in the count and swung at the third pitch. Stelts hit a groundball to freshman second baseman Garrett Christman. GC fielded the grounder and flipped the ball to Tanner Watson, who was standing on second, for the final out of the game, completing the no-hitter by Derek Asuras.

Asuras pitched a complete game, shutout, four walk, and nine strikeout no-hitter. This was the second no hitter that DA has thrown in his high school career. He threw his first during his sophomore on the Millers’ trip to Tennessee on Spring Break against Bearden High School of Tennessee.

Millers dominate 1st Annual Noblesville Classic

Saturday’s 1^st Annual Noblesville Classic was exactly what the Noblesville Millers needed at this point in their season. Two games that can be confidence builders for the remainder of the regular season, plus a possible state tournament run again.

Noblesville 12, Twin Lakes 3

It took the Millers their first few hitters to get used to Twin Lakes’ Jordan Crabb’s pitching. The one thing Crabb didn’t know was that once Noblesville got to know his pitching, that it would be on like Donkey Kong!

Austin Ramey singled to shallow left to start. DH Brock Hammond reached on an error by second baseman Tyler Barnes. Caleb Shore safely bunted himself aboard to load the bases. Nevin Fansher struck out for the first out. Garrett Christman walked on four straight pitches, driving in Ramey. Pitcher Kent Williams knows how to help his own cause. KW smacked a two-run double, scoring Hammond and Shore to give the Millers a 3-0 lead.

With Christman and Williams on base, Derek Asuras hit a two-run triple to left center. Tanner Watson and Dewey Rodgers walked to load the bases again. Asuras and Watson both scored with ease on passed balls to the backstop net. Ramey walked, giving NHS runners at the corners. Brock Hammond singled to left, scoring Rodgers from third and ending the 2^nd inning run parade by the Millers.

The NHS 2^nd inning: 9 runs, 6 hits, 4 walks, 4 singles, 2 extra base hits.

After that, it was smooth sailing for the Millers.

Noblesville catcher Sam Wides led the 3^rd off with a walk. He was driven home the next at-bat as Derek Asuras drove a two-run home run to deep right center, giving the Millers an 11-1 lead.

Ryan Connell scored the first Twin Lakes run back in the second on an RBI single by pitcher Jordan Crabb. Trevor Cohee scored on a Zach Diener RBI single to bring the Indians back to an 11-2 deficit.

Twin Lakes’ 6^th inning was their last real effort to put a dent in the Noblesville lead. Designated Hitter Kole Young scored on a fielder’s choice by catcher Tyler Widner to cut the Miller lead to 11-3.

Austin Ramey led off the bottom of the sixth with a triple to the center field wall. Hammond knocked Ramey in from third with a sacrifice fly to right to make the final score of 12-3 in favor of the host Millers.

Hamilton Heights 13, Mississinewa 0 (5 innings)

The Hamilton Heights Huskies came to the Noblesville Classic wanting to win, like they’ve been doing as of late. It was quite obvious that they wouldn’t accept a loss against Mississinewa, blanking the Indians 13-0 in five innings.

Heights scored four in the 1^st inning, 8 in the 2^nd and tacked on one more run in the 4^th to make it a “baker’s dozen,” which pitted them in the Noblesville Classic championship game against the host Noblesville Millers.

Logan Cunningham led the Huskie hitters going 3-for-3 with three runs scored, including a two-run single, a triple and two RBI’s. Not to mention, he was hit by a pitch during his second at-bat, the elder Cunningham reached base in all four plate appearances.

Kevin Beery, Spencer Dull, Andrew Knapp and Seth Small all four scored two runs a piece for Hamilton Heights.

Noblesville Classic – Consolation Game

Mississinewa vs. Twin Lakes (canceled due to rainout, wet field conditions)

Noblesville Classic – Championship Game

Noblesville 8, Hamilton Heights 1

Noblesville starting pitcher Ryan Byrne has endured quite the senior baseball season, quite the opposite of what he anticipated, that is. Coming into the Noblesville Classic championship game, Byrne’s record for the second was 0-6, not the typical Ryan Byrne that we’ve been used to for the past three seasons. Even though it’s late in the season, Saturday night’s game vs. Hamilton Heights was almost like a coming out party for Byrne.

His pitches were hitting the zone where Wides wanted them to (94 pitches, 62 strikes) and he was finally in control of his game on the mound. Byrne wasted no time at all, striking out the side in the first inning on his way to striking out 10 for the game. He also struck out two in the 2^nd and 6^th innings to keep the Hamilton Heights hitters in check.

Noblesville got to it right away at the plate in the bottom of the first. Asuras and Watson both walked to put runners at first and second. Dewey Rodgers drilled a double to the right center wall, scoring Asuras for a 1-0 lead. With Watson now at third and Rodgers at second, Austin Ramey grounded out to the shortstop, scoring Tanner Watson from third. Brock Hammond grounded out to third for the second out, but that allowed Rodgers to scoot home from third as well for a 3-0 Miller edge after one.

Hamilton Heights got on the board in the 4^th. Tyler Sauerteig reached base on an error by Rodgers at third. He was doubled home by Tyler Anderson’s RBI double to center, cutting Noblesville’s lead to 3-1.

With a 2-0 count to lead off the 5^th, Rodgers set a ball sailing over the trees in the right field corner for a solo home run. Ramey reached on a swinging strikeout. Caleb Shore walked to give the Millers runners at first and second. Patrick Rader scorched a first-pitch, two-run double to right center, plating both Ramey and Shore for a 7-1 NHS lead.

Asuras scored the game’s final run on an RBI groundout by Garrett Christman for the final count of 8-1 for the host Millers.

Noblesville Classic All-tournament team

P   Ryan Byrne, Noblesville: 6 innings, 10 strikeouts, 1^st win of 2011

P   Tyler Anderson, HH: 5 strikeouts (pitching); 2-for-4, 2B, 2 BB

C   Sam Wides, Noblesville: 3 put-outs, 0-4, run, BB

1B Austin Ramey, Noblesville: 2-6, 4 runs, 4 RBIs, 3B

2B Tanner Watson, Noblesville: 1-4, 2 runs, 2 BB, 2 FC

SS Kevin Beery, Ham. Heights: 2-6, 2 runs, RBI, 2B

3B Dewey Rodgers, Noblesville: 2-6, 3 runs, 2 RBIs, 2 BB, 2B, solo HR

OF Derek Asuras, Noblesville: 3-5, 4 runs, 2-R 3B, 2-R HR, 2 1Bs, 2 BB

OF Caleb Shore, Noblesville: 4-6, 2 runs, 3 SB, 4 1Bs

OF Logan Cunningham, HH: 3-6, 3 runs, 2 RBI, 3B

OF Zach Diener, Twin Lakes: 3-4, RBI, 2B, 2 1Bs

DH Brock Hammond, Noblesville: 2-7, 3 RBI, 2 runs, 2B, 2 RBI groundouts

Noblesville splits HCC series with Hamilton Southeastern, makes progress

After the Millers won a confident 6-2 victory on Tuesday night at home vs. Hamilton Southeastern, they were hoping repeat the same as they made the short trip to visit the Royals on Thursday night. HSE escaped with a 4-2 win to split the HCC series with Hamilton county rival Noblesville.

Noblesville 6, Hamilton Southeastern 2 (Tuesday)
When Noblesville picked up their bats in the bottom of the 1st, they had a different attitude about them that they hadn't had recently. The dugout was more upbeat and they seemed primed for a win. After Derek Asuras flied out to right, the Miller offense got started. The first pitch Tanner Watson saw, he layed down a beautiful bunt down the third base line and out of reach for P Alex Woodcock or 3B Joel Naab, giving Watson a one-out bunt single. Dewey Rodgers walked on four straight pitches. Austin Ramey roped a 1-2 pitch to left, scoring Watson. That would be all that NHS would threat, for the time being.

Noblesville starting pitcher Kent Williams and Hamilton Southeastern's Taylor Hackett, who relieved Woodcock after one inning, kept each opponent's bats in check for the next three innings. The Royals stranded five runners and Millers just one.

HSE got Grant Kistler aboard to lead off the 5th with an error on Miller 3B Dewey Rodgers. Kistler advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Justin Streibel. Wes Edrington singled to left to drive in Kistler, tying the game at 1-1.

The Miller half of the 5th was a little more generous for the hosts. On a 1-0 count, senior CF Caleb Shore drilled a solo home run, the first of his career, over right fild wall for a 2-1 NHS lead. Asuras smacked a single to shallow center and was bunted over by Watson. Rodgers was intentionally walked to give Noblesville Asuras at 2nd and Rodgers at 1st. Austin Ramey then smoked a three-run home run, his 2nd of the season, over the left-center wall, extending the Millers' lead to 4-1. Patrick Rader pinch-hit for DH Ryan Byrne, doubling to deep center and scoring soon after on an RBI groundout by Seth Rayle. This gave NHS a little more cushion at 5-1.

 

Kent Williams struck out the side in the Royals' top half of the sixth,  two were rung up looking. Despite allowing Mitch Roman to drive in Justin Streibel, Williams wasn't phased at all. He struck out Sean Green and Sean Davis consecutively to end the game and the HSE threat, 6-2. Kent now has a team-leading 5-3 record.

 

Hamilton Southeastern 4, Noblesville 2 (Thursday)

 

The host Royals didn't waste any time at all in getting to Miller starting pitcher Derek Asuras. They roughed DA up in the bottom of the first with 3 walks, two hits and two runs, while leaving the bases loaded.

 

Sam Wides drilled a two-out double to left-center, but it was nullified when he was caught leading off second base in the 2nd.

 

Asuras led off the top of the third with a walk, something he's used to lately. Stealing second, he was driven home on an RBI-double by Rodgers to deep center. That cut the Hamilton Southeastern lead to 2-1.

 

HSE pitcher Steven Curry led off the third with a double to left. He then scored one hitter later when Grant Kistler reached via an error by third basemen Dewey Rodgers. Then, with one out, Joel Naab flied out to right. Blake Kistler tried scoring from third, but was gunned down at the plate by RF Patrick Rader on a rope to Wides at home.

 

Seth Rayle led off the fourth with a single to shallow center, but he was stranded at third. Nevin Fansher, Caleb Shore and Wides committed three outs in a row to end the fourth with a runner in scoring position at third.

 

DH Kyle Ray started the Royal fourth off with a double to left-center. Wes Edrington and Justin Streibel popped out in two straight at-bats. With two outs, Mitch Roman drove in his second run of the series, singling to right, allowing Ray to score from second and up their lead to 4-1. 

 

Asuras tried to help his own mound cause, but walked for the second time. He advanced to second on a passed ball. With a 2-2 count, Tanner Watson sailed a ball down the right field line for an RBI triple and closing the Millers' deficit to 4-2. It didn't help matters that Rodgers, Ramey and Rader struckout in three straight at-bats to end the 5th. 

 

Hamilton Southeastern brought in relief pitcher Evan Rice to try shutting down Noblesville for good. Rice came in with two outs in the 6th, throwing just one pitch and forcing Watson to hit a grounder to second for the force out of Asuras at second for the final out of in the top of six. 

 

Noblesville relief pitcher Brock Hammond retired the first three Royals in the bottom of the sixth, in hopes of getting the Millers another shot at scoring runs. Instead, it was the complete opposite. Rodgers and Austin Ramey both flied out to right. Rader was NHS's last resort. Facing a 1-1 count, Rader fouled a ball sky high down the first base side along the fence. 1B Sean Davis, who is probably 6'4, used his long arm and reached just over the fence, catching the foul ball for the final out of the game. 

 

This was a hard fought series between the Millers (10-14) and Royals (11-11) and could very well be a preview of a possible rematch in the Class 4A Sectional at Zionsville.

 

The IHSAA will draw the 45th Annual IHSAA Baseball State Tournament pairings on Tuesday, May 17th at 8:00 a.m. 

 

Noblesville hosts the 1st Annual Noblesville Classic with Twin Lakes, Mississienewa and Hamilton Heights coming to town for a four-game Saturday at Dunker Field. Hamilton Southeastern hosts Perry Meridian for a doubleheader at home on Saturday. 

Something has got to give for this Noblesville squad...

You wanna talk about a team that can't catch a break? Take a look at this 2011 version of the Noblesville Millers. They're a tough-luck group that has all the intrical parts to be one of the best baseball teams in the state of Indiana. Unfortunately, some pieces haven't produced when the coaching staff hoped they would.

Three-time All-HCC/All-State starting pitcher Ryan Byrne is having the worst possible luck during his senior season. Byrne is currently 0-5 with a 5.86 ERA. He's given up 52 hits, 33 run (29 earned), only walked 14, but struck out 46 in 34.2 innings on the mound. After being all-state and all-conference the first three years of high school, this is far from what Byrne expected his senior year to be like.

Junior shortstop Seth Rayle was suspended for the first 10 games this season for violating team rules. He rejoined the Millers' starting lineup under the lights in a Saturday night tilt at Carmel. Rayle is 9-for-29 (.310) with 4 RBI's, 2 doubles and 8 runs scored, in just 11 games.

Jameson Brock was recently suspended 10 games for also violating team rules. JB will be able to play again when Noblesville heads to Harrison (West Lafayette) on Thursday, May 19. Brock was batting .302, going 16-for-53, 3 doubles, 4 RBI's, 8 runs scored. Senior Caleb Shore, junior Patrick Rader and freshman Garrett Christman have replaced JB in the lineup while he's out.

Through 21 games thus far, the Millers are 9-12, 2-9 in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference. They've lost 10 of their last 13 games since coming off a great Spring Break trip. Eight of those losses have come by four runs or fewer, three in nine innings.

We're honestly seeing some shades of the 2010 Millers, in spurts, but they may get there yet. This year, they're just not able to catch any breaks, they've more or less become the victim in those situations.

Losing both Fishers games by two runs total, 7-6 and 9-8 (9 innings), dropping two to Brownsburg, 3-2 and 3-0 (9 innings) really started the HCC season off in the opposite direction. The 4th Annual Victory Field Classic vs. Zionsville was only good after the first inning. The Eagles plated 4 in the first and played defense for six innings to seal a 4-1 win over the Millers on neutral turf.

They split with Lafayette Jeff, winning at home 5-1 and losing handedly at Loeb Stadium 9-1. NHS got a much needed W against 3A #11 Delphi in come-from-behind fashion, 4-2 on April 30. This past week, things looked to be getting on track...somewhat. Monday, the Millers lost a heartbreaker at McCutcheon,  2-0. Tuesday night's game was originally slated for a home game at Dunker Field, but with all the rain we had Sunday and Monday, the game was moved back to McCutcheon, but Noblesville would still be the home team on the board. All was going well, until the Mavericks pinned 4 runs in the top of the ninth and stymied the Miller bats in the bottom to hang on for a 9-5 win in 9 innings. Thursday night brought us a 9-6 win over 4A #9 Avon. Patrick Rader homered deep over the left field wall in that win, while Kent Williams upped his record to 4-2 and Brock Hammond got his first save. Friday night at Avon didn't bode well. With 6 runs in both the third and fourth innings, Avon put the spanking on Noblesville, 14-0, for their worst defeat of 2011.

The outlook for the remaining 9 games of the regular season: really good. Monday and Tuesday at home vs. Zionsville (4A #5) and Hamilton Southeastern, respectively. Thursday they'll play at Hamilton Southeastern to finish up the home-and home series with the Royals. Saturday, we'll host the 1st Annual Noblesville Classic and welcome Twin Lakes (at 11am). Game two pits Hamilton Heights against Mississinewa. Game 3 is the loser of games one and two. The Noblesville Classic title game will be at 7pm. The following week, they'll have two against Westfield and two against Harrison (West Lafayette). 

I guess I could say that I'm more optimistic than the next, but I've also got a birds-eye view in the press box at Dunker Field as PA voice of the Millers!

GO MILLERS!

 

Noblesville takes two W's this week, getting ready for May run...

Noblesville head coach Justin Keever keeps tweeking the lineup and it works, to an extent. The Millers (8-9, 1-6) won two of their three games this week and are showing the same signs that last season's 2010 Sectional Champions and Elite Eight team did just a couple weeks before the IHSAA State Tournament began.

Noblesville 5, Lafayette Jeff 1 (Tuesday)
On Tuesday at Dunker Field, Lafayette Jeff came to town looking to keep the Millers down. Keever's squad was on a six game losing streak prior to meeting the Bronchos. The streak ended as Noblesville controlled Lafayette Jeff, 5-1. Derek Asuras struck out seven in 7 innings of work, while only walking 2. Dewey Rodgers and Seth Rayle led NHS at the plate. Rodgers went 2-for-3, with a double, single and a run scored. Rayle also went 2-for-3 with a single and an RBI double in the 4th that scored Rodgers.

Lafayette Jeff 9, Noblesville 1 (Thursday)
Not a pretty site from the get-go for the visiting Millers. Lafayette Jeff stormed out of the starting gates in the bottom of the 1st inning with a four-run inning and didn't look back from that point. Getting four runs in the 3rd and 4th innings combined, homestanding Bronchos held Noblesville to three total hits in 24 at-bats. This loss dropped the Millers to 7-9 overall and 1-6 in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference.

Noblesville 4, Delphi 2 (Saturday)
On Saturday, starting pitcher Kent Williams didn't look like the fire-throwing hurler that he's looked like in previous outings this season. With a 37 pitch first inning, Williams looked like he was taken a step backwards. It took him a few batters to get his head on straight, walking his first three that stepped into the box on 21 pitches. Striking out centerfielder Karson Bender to finally record an out, KW looked to be calmed down now. SS Kodey Sattler then roped a two-run single to center, scoring pitcher Erik Carpenter and RF Austin Hawn for a 2-0 Delphi Oracle lead. Williams struck out Dayton Rumell and Cole Murray to put an end to a first inning that could have been much worse for the junior right-hander.

Going one-two-three in the bottom of one, Noblesville's bats hadn't quite woken up since their 9-1 loss at Jeff two days prior. With one out in the bottom of the second, something felt eerie at Dunker Field. Facing a 2-1 count, Dewey Rodgers put everything he had into a rib-high fastball. The ball went sailing over the left field wall and didn't touch down until it took a 20-foot bounce off State Road 32, landing in the yard of the apartments across the street. "Hello State Road 32!" was my call as I announced the home run over the public address at Dunker Field. It was honestly the first thing that came out of my mouth, so I said it, and it fit perfect for Dewey's ticker-tape homer. That HR brought the Millers back in the game, down just 2-1.

Williams held the Oracles in check through the 6th inning, striking out 7 hitters and walking four. The Miller bats gave him a big boost in the bottom of the sixth. With another one-out at-bat, Rodgers laced a single into shallow left field. DH Patrick Rader walked, with Tyler Mitchener pinch running for him. Austin Ramey struck out, forcing NHS to rally with two outs. Seth Rayle lofted an RBI-single over Delphi 2B Tyler Smith's head, scoring Rodgers and tying the game at 2-2. That hit also advanced Mitchener from first to third. A passed ball to the net behind home plate allowed Mitchener to score with ease, putting the Millers up 3-2. Sam Wides earned an RBI as he also singled to right, scoring Rayle and giving Noblesville a 4-2 lead.

Derek Asuras came on in relief in the top of the 7th. A groundout and 2 strikeouts later, the Millers rejoiced a 4-2 come-from-behind victory at Dunker Field over the visiting Delphi Oracles. Noblesville's offense was led by Rodgers with his solo HR blast to left and sixth inning single, Rayle's RBI single and Wides' 2-for-2 performance with a fielder's choice in the 2nd, bunt single to lead off the 5th and single with 2 RBI's in the 6th.

2A #11 Delphi fell to 8-7 and will likely not receive votes in this week's IHSBCA 2A poll. After starting 7-0 this season, the Oracles are just 1-7 in their last 8 outings. The defending 2A State Runners-Up have hit a rut in their schedule, but will probably bounce back just fine. That's what happened last season. The same result happened and the Oracles made a tremendous 2A State Tournament run. They wound up bowing out in the 2A state title game to defending state champion Heritage Christian, 5-1, and finishing at 26-8.

The Noblesville Millers (8-9, 1-6 HCC) have their work cut out for them in this 12-game stretch to close out the regular season in May. This week, two home-and-home series with McCutcheon (10-3) and 4A #10 (13-3) Avon. They travel to McCutcheon on Monday and Avon on Friday. Dunker Field will be the site of home games against McCutcheon (Tuesday) and Avon (Thursday), all games being 6 p.m. for first pitch.

Last night's lineup vs. Delphi might be what Keever is looking for when it comes to a solid lineup. This team has great potential, just as last season's Sectional Champions/Elite Eight team did. These Millers need to peak now and keep going.

Senior pitcher Ryan Byrne needs to regain the domination factor that he's had since he first took the mound during his freshman year in '08. He's in a funk and is slowly but surely finding his way back. Derek Asuras needs to keep pitching like he has been so far this season. DA has 26 strikeouts in 17.2 innings over his last three appearances. Tanner Watson, Jameson Brock and Dewey Rodgers are three seniors that the coaching staff will count on to lead this group. Ramey and Rader, their bats will wake up this week. Seth Rayle now has 7 games under his belt and is hitting with consistency, along with solidifying the middle of the infield at shortstop with Watson at second. Fansher has become a fixture in LF, while Brock and Asuras have swapped positions, with Asuras back in CF and Brock now in RF. Wides is one of the best defensive catchers in the state and as captain of the infield, Sam has been hitting the ball well of late and could be a vital part of the Millers' offensive success down the stretch in May.

GO MILLERS!
Craig Adkins
-Voice of Miller baseball

College Basketball Has No Room for "One-and-done" players!

The title of this blog entry speaks for itself. It's a total waste, yes waste, of a collegiate basketball program to offer a high school player a full-ride athletic scholarship if his intentions are to only play one year of college basketball. All that player cares about is that he's been a highly recruited high school player and is going to attend an NCAA Division I school that makes the NCAA Tournament year in and year out. This will get that player even more national exposure to NBA scouts. Selfish is exactly what this is with these one-and-done college basketball players, pure selfish.

There has got to be a way that the NCAA can put some sort of clamps on this happening. These players should be up front when they enter college and let the nation know that they're only staying for one, two, three or, heaven forbid, staying for their senior season. There are very few that value what staying in for all four years can do for a player. Sure, you all think that one or two years playing college basketball is almost more than enough to prepare for the NBA.

Leaving college early for the NBA is nothing more than a cop-out. These players think that they're better than the system of NCAA basketball as a whole, which is why they leave after just one season. It's also sad that a lot of these one-and-dones don't even have to worry about tests and homework in their classes while they're there, even for a short time. College basketball head coaches have been tabbed to have sought out other college students to take exams and write papers for these students, just so that they'll be academically eligible to play the whole season. Sad, but true.

Below I have put together a list of players that are declaring for the NBA draft. Below that, a list of players that have decided that they will return for the 2011-12 season of college basketball. I'll also tell my reason why these players should or shouldn't go pro or if they won't even make an NBA roster.

Entering the NBA draft:
Olu Ashaolu, Jr, Louisiana Tech (most likely ends up overseas)
Laurence Bowers, Jr, Missouri (NBDL talent or go back to Mizzou)
Alec Burks, So, Colorado (making a mistake hiring an agent; 2nd round or NBDL)
DeAngelo Casto, Jr, Washington State (who the hell is DeAngelo Castro? go back to WSU, son!)
Michael Dunigan, Oregon (Hear that Duck call?! Even your agent doesn't want you to go pro!)
Kim English, Jr, Missouri (Mizzou product who gave up on college; have fun in the NBDL or Europe!)
Ashton Gibbs, Jr, Pitt (Should head back to Pitt and spend the season leading the Big East in scoring)
Gus Gilchrist, Jr, South Florida (not enough national exposure to get this guy drafted)
Troy Gillenwater, Jr, Louisville (Should head back to UL. Pitino will play him more this year)
Jordan Hamilton, So, Texas (Another year in Austin will help Hamilton become a better big man)
Tobias Harris, Fr, Tennessee (New coach could help this Frosh with his game)
Tu Holloway, Jr, Xavier (early tourney exit should make Tu hungry to come back for more)
Tyler Honeycutt, So, UCLA (Ben Howland could use Honeycutt, NBA can wait)
Scotty Hopson, Jr, Tennessee (Hopson needs to stay and give UT leadership in post-Pearl era)
Kyrie Irving, Fr, Duke (played 11 games as Frosh. Will still be a Top 5 draft pick)
Reggie Jackson, Jr, Boston College (needs one more year at BC)
Terrence Jennings, Jr, Louisville (Jennings is good, but would sit the pine in the NBA right away)
Orlando Johnson, Jr, UC Santa Barbara (needs a senior year as a Gaucho)
Kevin Jones, Jr, West Virginia (Jones should come back to help lead the Mountaineers)
Terrence Jones, Fr, Kentucky (Final Four trip or not. Jones needs one more year in Lexington)
Enes Kanter, Fr, Kentucky (why does UK insist that 4 or 5 guys enter the draft every year?!)
Brandon Knight, Fr, Kentucky (Will probably stay in draft, but could use one more year at UK)
Malcolm Lee, Jr, UCLA (head back to Westwood, the NBA has no idea who you are!)
Travis Leslie, Jr, Georgia (one more year in the SEC might get Leslie NBA ready)
Kawhi Leonard, So, SDSU (Leonard could dominate for SDSU, but NBA could use him)
DeAndre Liggins, Jr, Kentucky (this year's Daniel Orton. Barely scored/rebounded. Good luck going pro!)
Shelvin Mack, Jr, Butler (Mack will come back to Butler. BU has a lot of talent for 2011-12)
Darius Morris, So, Michigan (will stay in draft solely because he's a thug from Michigan!)
Marcus Morris, Jr, Kansas (if Marcus works on his jumper, he'll be a decent NBA player)
Markieff Morris, Jr, Kansas (Markieff has a lot to work on to make it as an NBA player)
Jamine Peterson, Providence (not even listed on PC's roster?!)
JP Primm, Jr, UNC Asheville (go back to Asheville and party more Primm! work on your game also)
Jereme Richmond, Fr, Illinois (Bruce Webet needs Richmond back, bottom line)
Carleton Scott, Jr, Notre Dame (Scott will be back for Irish. Only 2 seniors, Irish should be good)
Josh Selby, Fr, Kansas (Selby never wanted to be in Lawrence to begin with)
Iman Shumpert, Jr, Georgia Tech (Coach Hewitt gets fired, so Shumpert wants out)
John Shurna, Jr, Northwestern (Should stay in Evanston. Needs to be all-Big Tn before going pro)
Greg Smith, So, Fresno State (mistake for Smith to leave Fresno)
Isaiah Thomas, Jr, Washington (will be a decent pro, but might get put in his place early)
Trey Thompkins, Jr, Georgia (needs more time in Athens. Guarantee Trey isn't his real name!)
Hollis Thompson, So, Georgetown (junior varsity version of Roy Hibbert. That's a bad thing folks!)
Klay Thompson, Jr, Washington State (too many Thompsons in draft, go back to Pullman!)
Tristan Thompson, Fr, Texas (Frosh needs more Big 12 PT)
Nikola Vucevic, Jr, USC (no idea who this guy is. USC isn't real known for basketball)
Kemba Walker, Jr, UConn (Top 5 pick for sure. Walker will excel in the NBA as a shooter)
Derrick Williams, So, Arizona (best Soph. coming out early)
Jordan Williams, So, Maryland (Gary Williams could use this Williams back on campus)
Brandon Wood, Jr, Valpo (There's a player from Valparaiso in the draft as an early entry?!)
RETURNING TO SCHOOL:
Tyler Zeller, Jr, UNC
John Henson, So, UNC
Harrison Barnes, Fr, North Carolina
William Buford, Jr, Ohio State
Jared Sullinger, Fr, Ohio State
Jordan Taylor, Jr, WisconsinThomas Robinson, Jr, KansasCory Joseph, Fr, Texas
Kris Joseph, Jr, Syracuse
Doron Lamb, Fr, Kentucky
Trevor Mbakwe, Jr, Minnesota
Ray McCallum, Fr, Detroit
Mason Plumlee, So, Duke
Herb Pope, Jr, Seton Hall
Cam Tatum, Jr, TennesseeDrew Gordon, Jr, New MexicoWill Barton, Fr, Memphis
Quincy Acy, Jr, BaylorMaalik Wayns, So, Villanova
Wesley Witherspoon, Jr, Memphis

The coaches of the players listed below are definetely thinking how glad they are that these guys are coming back for another season of college basketball. I can't say enough of how glad I am that these players will be back. I love college basketball!!

Perry Jones, Fr, BaylorDee Bost, Jr, Mississippi State
Fetsus Ezili, Jr, Vanderbilt
JaMychal Green, Jr, Alabama
Dario Hunt, Jr, Nevada
John Jenkins, So, Vanderbilt
Ricardo Ratliffe, Jr, Missouri
Terrence Ross, Fr, Washington
Renardo Sidney, So, Mississippi State
Jeff Taylor, Jr, Vanderbilt

Stay tuned for more on this.
Tyshawn Taylor, Jr, Kansas

Noblesville's skid reaches 5 games: Brownsburg 3, Noblesville 0 (9 innings)

Brownsburg 3, Noblesville 0 (9 innings)

The Noblesville Millers' losing streak has now reached five games. They just can't seem to catch a break, even when they're right in front of them, something is always in the way. Wednesday night, it was like deja vu from Monday's game at Brownsburg. I'll get to that further down, keep reading.

In one of the most dominating individual pitching performances that I've seen in high school baseball, I had no idea that the game would take the turn that Wednesday night's game at Dunker Field in Noblesville did in the late stages of the game. Noblesville's Derek Asuras put together a night on the mound that coach Justin Keever couldn't have asked more of. Through 8 innings of work, Asuras had 17 strikeouts (six looking), allowed two hits and one walk, while also only yielding just four groundball outs, one lineout and one flyout to the Millers' defensive credit behind him.

Asuras struck out the side in the 1st and 6th innings and had two strikeouts in the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 7th innings. So, did DA run out of gas in the top of the 9th inning? Should Keever have pulled him in favor of reliever Dewey Rodgers before the 9th inning?

With the score knotted at 0-0 thru eight full innings, I honestly had that eerie feeling that something was going to happen in the 9th inning and I was obviously hoping that it wouldn't happen for the Brownsburg Bulldogs.

Second baseman Tanner Watson misplayed a grounder that took an odd bounce to him, allowing Jeremy Jones on with a leadoff infield single. DH John Moore flew out to right and Tyler Owensby struckout looking, to give the Bulldogs two outs. Isaac Sampen was intentionally walked, sending Jones to 2nd. It was probably a mistake to give Sampen the "free pass" to first base and face Bobby Carr, but Keever was willing to take that chance.

Here's where the deja vu comes into play. Monday night at Brownsburg, with the game tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the 7th inning, the tide turned for the Bulldogs. Bobby Carr smacked a double off the outfield wall, scoring Tyler Whetstone to give Brownsburg a 3-2 victory over the Millers.

Back to Wednesday night at Noblesville. With Sampen getting the intentional walk to first and Jeremy Jones sitting on 2nd, that sent Carr to the plate in a situation where he was licking his chops for a chance at. The first pitch that Carr saw from Asuras in the at-bat sailed over RF Caleb Shore's head and over the right field fence for a three-run home run for Bobby Carr. This gave Brownsburg a 3-0 lead in the top of the 9th. David Oliger singled in the next at-bat, the last batter Derek Asuras would face in his best game on the mound of his high school career, statistically. Dewey Rodgers faced two batters to get the Millers out of the top of the 9th.

Brownsburg relief pitcher Levi Slawta confidently shutdown the Miller effort in the bottom of the 9th. Seth Rayle flied out to right field, Caleb Shore struckout and Tanner Watson grounded to the shortstop for the final out of the game.

Watson led the Millers offensively going 3-for-4, with two of his three singles beating out infield hits. Jameson Brock also had a couple singles.

Noblesville stays home Friday night to host 4A #4 Zionsville (9-1), first pitch is at 7 p.m. On Saturday, the Millers and Eagles will clash again, but this time it will be in the 4th Annual Victory Field Classic. Noblesville and Zionsville start their HCC battle at 5:30 p.m. and 4A #5 Cathedral (8-1) faces 4A #6 Lawrence Central (6-0) in the nightcap, following the Noblesville-Zionsville game.

Come on out to Dunker Field on Friday night and come out to Victory Field on Saturday evening to see some great high school baseball!