Game 1: North Central 16, Fishers 11
R H E LOB
NCHS 0 0 0 1 9 3 3-- 16 15 0 6
FHS 0 3 3 0 2 0 3-- 11 16 4 5
When the state tournament starts, no matter what sport we're talking about, there's something that people say and I think that it's as true as can be. Throw the regular season records out the window, because everyone starts Sectional play with a clean slate, despite what they did or didn't do during the regular season. Tonight's first game of the Class 4A Sectional 8 tournament at Noblesville was nothing short of that.
The 7-8-9 hitters of the Fishers batting order got the Tigers scoring started with two outs in the bottom of the second off North Central starting pitcher Mac Lozer. With two down and a one-two count, Jon Cordell lined a single to left. Next up, Cameron VanderBerg stroked a two-run home run over the left field fence and onto State Road 32, nearly hitting a car on the bounce. Parker Lasch followed VanderBerg with a solo home run to left-center for back-to-back long balls for Fishers and a 3-0 lead after two innings.
They kept the scoring going with three more in the third. Woolwine's single to left center continued the charge. He was driven over to third with a JP Pena to left, giving FHS runners at the corners. Designated hitter Blake Baumgartner then hit a sacrifice fly to left, driving Woolwine home for a 4-0 margin. Two pitches later, Clay Small also found the other side of the left field wall for a two-run shot of his own. Fishers was now up 6-0 after three innings and looked to be cruising right along to a semi-final matchup with Noblesville. Think again.
Mark Smith and Justin Short led the fourth off for the Panthers with two straight walks and Ben Breymier's infield single loaded the bases, showing real signs of life at the plate for the first time tonight for North Central. Roman Baisa's fielder's choice brought home Smith to take the Panthers' goose egg off the scoreboard and bring their deficit to 6-1.
After reliever Seth Parrish sent the Tigers down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the fourth, North Central got focused on the task at hand. Catcher Demetrius Webb walked and scored on Andrew Riley's towering home run to left, narrowing the gap at 6-3. Parrish and Smith both reached on consecutive at-bats by way of errors by 3B Parker Lasch. Short singled to shallow left center to scored Parrish. Breymier walked to load the bags with Panthers. Baisa grounded a ball up the middle for an RBI-single to score Smith. Short scored on Jacob Zeller's fielder's choice and Baisa was forced out at second. Lucas Moehle hit a deep one-hop over the fence in center for a ground-rule double, scoring Breymier and Zeller for a 7-6 NC advantage. Drew Clark might not have been the best relieft option to spell reliever Jon Simonett. The top of the fifth was capped off by a three-run homer to deep right center by Riley and North Central now leading 10-6.
A pretty darn good effort for North Central in the fifth. Nine runs, five hits, two Fishers errors and none left on base for the Panthers. Andrew Riley showed his clout as the leadoff man with a two-run and three-run home run for five RBI's from his two long balls.
Seth Parrish got back on the mound in the Fishers half of the fifth with a comfortable four run lead, but not for long. Woolwine led off an inning for the second time in as many at-bats with a single. After Pena struck out, Baumgartner legged out an infield single, giving the Tigers a pair of baserunners. Clay Small K'd for two outs and hope of putting a dent in the Panther lead was dimming. Cordell knocked a single into right, just behind second base to load the bases. Cameron VanderBerg kept filling up his line of the stat sheet with a two-run single to left, scoring Woolwine and pinch runner Cory Reed. Fishers now trailed 10-8 after five innings complete.
North Central had no let up in them on Wednesday night (5/23). They tallied three more runs in the top of the sixth. Mark Smith led off singling to right. Breymier dropped a single down in front of the left fielder VanderBerg. Roman Baisa layed down a perfect bunt single to, once again, give the Panthers runners at every base. Zeller smoked a two-run single to right, Smith and Breymier scored with ease. NCHS lengthened its lead to 13-8 when Lucas Moehle smacked an RBI-single to right.
Nothing doing for Fishers in the sixth except for a Garret Schlotter single, but he was left on base for the second of three times reaching base.
North Central wasn't done scoring. Smith led off with a single to left. Short walked. Ball four was a wild pitch by Tiger reliever Justin Rhodes. Two Panthers now on base. Baisa drove in RBI's two and three with a single and eventually scored on an error by right fielder Jon Cordell. Coach Phil McIntyre's squad was in complete control up 16-8, but still had the bottom of the seventh to play defensively.
Parrish had already pitched 4.2 relieft innings and it was a wonder if he'd last through the bottom of the Fishers order in the last of the 7th. He struck out Baumgartner, but allowed a single from Small and a walk to Cordell before he was pulled in favor of Jensen Kirch. On the hook for the two baserunners aboard, Parrish left the game hoping for just some great defense by his teammates to keep the win in their hands. Four pitches later, VanderBerg hit his second home run of the game, a three-run bomb to left to ignite the Fishers crowd and bench. Lasch was hit with an 0-1 pitch right in the back. Drew Clark struck out for the second out and Fishers clinging to life with a runner on and trailing by five. Garret Schlotter found his way to first with an infield single, but this is where smart base running should have come into play. Schlotter's hit advanced Lasch to second, but he rounded the bag just a little too far. Andrew Riley had the ball in hand at shortstop and easily tossed the ball to second baseman Andrew Sullivan for the tagout of Lasch to end the game, the Tigers' bottom of the seventh threat and their season, all in a couple seconds.
Fishers said goodbye to a great core of seniors on Wednesday night and they obviously went out with quite a bang. Cordell, Lasch, Pena, Clark, VanderBerg, Small, Rhodes and Woolwine will be sorely missed in the field and at the plate for Matthew Cherry's Tigers, who finished 22-9 this season. FHS was led at the plate by Cameron VanderBerg with a stellar 4-for-4 night with 7 RBI's, two runs scored, a pair of home runs (two-run and three-run) and a couple singles between the roundtrippers. Schlotter, Woolwine and Small each had two hits, one of Small's being a two-run shot.
With the stunning victory, North Central advances to the first game of the day on Monday, Memorial Day, to face the host school,Noblesville, at 11 a.m.
Riley topped the Panthers with two home runs and five RBI's. Mark Smith went 3-of-3 and scored 4 runs. Baisa also carried a big stick, going 3-4 with 3 RBI's and a couple runs. Ben Breymier, Jacob Zeller and Lucas Moehle all contributed two hits apiece for North Central.
Games 2 and 3 on Friday night feature a couple rivalry games. 4A #5 Zionsville (23-5) matches up with fellow Hoosier Crossroads Conference rival Hamilton Southeastern (19-10) in the first game at 5:30. The Eagles swept the Royals in HCC play 9-2 and 3-2 in the regular season.
Around 8pm, Westfield (16-12) tangles with Carmel (9-20) for the right to play in the semifinals on Monday. The Rocks beat the Greyhounds at home in their regular season matchup in late March, 9-4.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Monday, May 21, 2012
Millers dominate, sweep Harrison 9-0 and 14-2
5/17 Senior Night at The Dunk: Noblesville 9, Harrison 0
Taran Murphy took the hill for the Noblesville Millers on Senior Night and you could tell he was quite proud to be in such a role on a night when he and 11 senior classmates took the field for their final regular season home game.
Murphy shared the mound on Thursday night with fellow senior pitcher Kent Williams and the two combined for a three-hit shutout of the Harrison Raiders, 9-0. Taran allowed two hits, walked a pair of Raiders, but most importantly, kept lackluster Harrison from scoring in his 5 2/3 innings. Williams finished the final 1 2/3 innings, allowing just one hit and going 1-2-3 in the 7th, striking out two.
With the Millers' team manager Jennifer Nance sitting next to me in the press box at The Dunk, it's pretty cool to see the progress of certain players. She keeps the speed gun for our pitchers while we're in the field. Taran Murphy topped his speed out at 86 mph and Kent Williams reached a personal best of 92 mph. She said that he told her prior to the game that his goal was 90 mph. That's quite a speed for a high school pitcher these days, especially with all the junk and off-speed style pitches we see from pitchers.
First baseman Mike Carnahan was the sole bright spot for Harrison at the plate. The stoutly built clean-up hitter went 2-for-3 on the night. He struck out in the 1st, but doubled down the left field line in the 4th and hit a long single down the right field line in the 6th. LF Evan Tislow added a single for the third Harrison hit.
Noblesville got two runs in the first inning and got them pretty quick. Sam Wides and Luke Porter both walked. Andrew Wilson reached on an error by SS Jacob Payne, but was forced out at second on Garrett Christman's fielder's choice that scored Wides. Porter crossed home the next batter when DH Mike Nichols legged out an infield single.
The Millers continued their scoring in the 4th. Senior Garrett Welch roped a single to left to lead off. Fellow Nevin Fansher got plunked by a pitch and Steven Jones walked to load the bases with no outs. Wides drove Welch home on a sacrifice fly to right. Luke Porter drove Fansher in with an RBI ground out to second for a 4-0 lead after four.
They gave it their best effort to try and close this game out early by the ten run rule, but were unable to do it in that fashion. Christman, Nichols and senior Nick Vallier were all put on base via being hit by a pitch. I'm not sure if I've ever seen the bases loaded that way before! Senior John Cola pinch-hit for Welch and walked to bring home Christman. After senior Justin Holloway K'd, senior Steven Jones walked, sending Nichols home. Vallier made it home when Wides was also hit by a pitch. With Porter popping out to the catcher, that gave NHS the bases loaded with two outs. Andrew Wilson made some room on the basepaths with a nice two-run single, plating Cola and Jones for a 9-0 Miller advantage. The Millers were oh-so-close to getting that 10th and decisive run to win it in five, but Christman struck out to leave two on.
That 9-0 lead wound up being the final on the scoreboard last Thursday (5/17) at Dunker Field. It was a night when it was the final regular season home game for Cola, Murphy, Holloway, Jones, Fansher, Welch, Williams, Wides, Nichols, Yoder, Vallier and Hammond. With one heck of a draw for the 2012 Class 4A Sectional 8 draw, Noblesville hosts the sectional this year and drew the bye game, giving them plenty of time to prepare to win the 2012 sectional champioinshp on their home turf.
5/18 at Harrison: Noblesville 14, Harrison 2
After blanking the Raiders in Noblesville the previous night, the Millers handed Harrison a straight-up whipping on their Senior Night with a 14-2 shalacking.
Trevor Salmon started and was tabbed for the win for Noblesville after going 3 2/3 innings and striking out 5. Brock Masterson went 2 1/3, K-ing three and Kent Williams made his second consecutive relief appearance, closing out the seventh with a strikeout.
Nevin Fansher and Garrett Christman were the stat leaders at the plate. Fansher went 3-for-3 with two RBI's, two runs scored and a couple stolen bases. Christman was 2-for-5 with four of Noblesville's 14 runs, three RBI's and stole a base also. Others highlighted in the box score were Nick Vallier's 3 RBI's, Luke Porter's 3 stolen bases and TJ Lindstrand going 2-for-3 with and RBI and two stolen bases.
Clicking on all cylinders and hitting their stride at just the right time of the season is what it's all about right now for the Noblesville Miller baseball team. They've won five out of seven since dropping the two game series vs. Hamilton Southeastern and are 9-3 in the month of May.
Sectional time is here and this is when you can pretty much toss all won-loss records aside and see who's got what it takes to advance in the state tournament. This is very possible and I think it's going to happen for Noblesville. We got the draw we wanted, now we just have to make it happen! GO MILLERS!
Taran Murphy took the hill for the Noblesville Millers on Senior Night and you could tell he was quite proud to be in such a role on a night when he and 11 senior classmates took the field for their final regular season home game.
Murphy shared the mound on Thursday night with fellow senior pitcher Kent Williams and the two combined for a three-hit shutout of the Harrison Raiders, 9-0. Taran allowed two hits, walked a pair of Raiders, but most importantly, kept lackluster Harrison from scoring in his 5 2/3 innings. Williams finished the final 1 2/3 innings, allowing just one hit and going 1-2-3 in the 7th, striking out two.
With the Millers' team manager Jennifer Nance sitting next to me in the press box at The Dunk, it's pretty cool to see the progress of certain players. She keeps the speed gun for our pitchers while we're in the field. Taran Murphy topped his speed out at 86 mph and Kent Williams reached a personal best of 92 mph. She said that he told her prior to the game that his goal was 90 mph. That's quite a speed for a high school pitcher these days, especially with all the junk and off-speed style pitches we see from pitchers.
First baseman Mike Carnahan was the sole bright spot for Harrison at the plate. The stoutly built clean-up hitter went 2-for-3 on the night. He struck out in the 1st, but doubled down the left field line in the 4th and hit a long single down the right field line in the 6th. LF Evan Tislow added a single for the third Harrison hit.
Noblesville got two runs in the first inning and got them pretty quick. Sam Wides and Luke Porter both walked. Andrew Wilson reached on an error by SS Jacob Payne, but was forced out at second on Garrett Christman's fielder's choice that scored Wides. Porter crossed home the next batter when DH Mike Nichols legged out an infield single.
The Millers continued their scoring in the 4th. Senior Garrett Welch roped a single to left to lead off. Fellow Nevin Fansher got plunked by a pitch and Steven Jones walked to load the bases with no outs. Wides drove Welch home on a sacrifice fly to right. Luke Porter drove Fansher in with an RBI ground out to second for a 4-0 lead after four.
They gave it their best effort to try and close this game out early by the ten run rule, but were unable to do it in that fashion. Christman, Nichols and senior Nick Vallier were all put on base via being hit by a pitch. I'm not sure if I've ever seen the bases loaded that way before! Senior John Cola pinch-hit for Welch and walked to bring home Christman. After senior Justin Holloway K'd, senior Steven Jones walked, sending Nichols home. Vallier made it home when Wides was also hit by a pitch. With Porter popping out to the catcher, that gave NHS the bases loaded with two outs. Andrew Wilson made some room on the basepaths with a nice two-run single, plating Cola and Jones for a 9-0 Miller advantage. The Millers were oh-so-close to getting that 10th and decisive run to win it in five, but Christman struck out to leave two on.
That 9-0 lead wound up being the final on the scoreboard last Thursday (5/17) at Dunker Field. It was a night when it was the final regular season home game for Cola, Murphy, Holloway, Jones, Fansher, Welch, Williams, Wides, Nichols, Yoder, Vallier and Hammond. With one heck of a draw for the 2012 Class 4A Sectional 8 draw, Noblesville hosts the sectional this year and drew the bye game, giving them plenty of time to prepare to win the 2012 sectional champioinshp on their home turf.
5/18 at Harrison: Noblesville 14, Harrison 2
After blanking the Raiders in Noblesville the previous night, the Millers handed Harrison a straight-up whipping on their Senior Night with a 14-2 shalacking.
Trevor Salmon started and was tabbed for the win for Noblesville after going 3 2/3 innings and striking out 5. Brock Masterson went 2 1/3, K-ing three and Kent Williams made his second consecutive relief appearance, closing out the seventh with a strikeout.
Nevin Fansher and Garrett Christman were the stat leaders at the plate. Fansher went 3-for-3 with two RBI's, two runs scored and a couple stolen bases. Christman was 2-for-5 with four of Noblesville's 14 runs, three RBI's and stole a base also. Others highlighted in the box score were Nick Vallier's 3 RBI's, Luke Porter's 3 stolen bases and TJ Lindstrand going 2-for-3 with and RBI and two stolen bases.
Clicking on all cylinders and hitting their stride at just the right time of the season is what it's all about right now for the Noblesville Miller baseball team. They've won five out of seven since dropping the two game series vs. Hamilton Southeastern and are 9-3 in the month of May.
Sectional time is here and this is when you can pretty much toss all won-loss records aside and see who's got what it takes to advance in the state tournament. This is very possible and I think it's going to happen for Noblesville. We got the draw we wanted, now we just have to make it happen! GO MILLERS!
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Millers are clicking at the right time...(Recap of May)
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.
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.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Millers split Lafayette Jeff series; edged by 2A #7 Delphi
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!
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!
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!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)