It's honestly hard to tell through 13 games played whether or not a team will be vying for the conference, sectional, regional, semi-state and state titles. But, from the looks of it, the Noblesville Millers keep getting better and finding ways to make things happen and get the job done, no matter what it takes!
Starting with the Lafayette Jeff series opener on the road Tuesday, the Millers reach the midpoint of the regular season (14 games). They'll play 14 more before hosting the 4A Sectional 8 tournament at Dunker Field.
Here's a slight look at the Hoosier Crossroads Conference and were HCC foes fell in this week.
The HCC in this week's IHSBCA 4A poll...
Top to bottom, the HCC already has the feel that it will be a dogfight to win the conference title in outright fashion, just like it is every year. So far this season, Westfield (7-4) has been #1 and currently sits tied for the #4 ranking with Munster in this week's 4A poll. Also in the 4A poll, according to the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association (IHSBCA), Fishers (12-2-1) comes in at #7, with their lone loss coming at Noblesville last week, 9-4. Brownsburg (6-4) came in at #9 this week, but will drop out of the Top 10 with its two losses to Noblesville.
Having won four games in a row this week, Noblesville will more than likely find itself back in the Top 10 of both the coaches poll (ihsbca.org) and Prep Baseball Report (prepbaseballreport.com).
But, while it's all fine and dandy to be respected and revered as one of the best teams in the state, from the opinions of the Coaches Poll and the people that put rankings out for Prep Baseball Report, they're really not that important. I'm one of those people, like a lot of coaches out there, that really thinks nothing about rankings. They're nothing but a guideline for giving everyone an idea of how their peers view them and where they stand among the competition.
Noblesville 4, Zionsville 2 (8 innings) - (Thursday, April 24 at The Dunk)
Eagles 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 - 2 6 1
Millers 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 2 - 4 9 1
Zack St. Pierre started on the bump for the Millers and couldn't have been more dialed in. Striking out his first two batters (Nolan Elsbury and Ben Kocher) he faced and forcing catcher Travis Tokarek to ground out, Zionsville went 1-2-3.
In the second, the senior southpaw hurler only threw 7 pitches and used his defense to go untouched, with two fly outs and a pop out.
He allowed his first hit in the third inning, but Evan Miiller didn't stay on base long. Miiller was doubled up when DH Kyle Schulte lined out to shortstop Garrett Christman for two quick outs.
Noblesville got its bats in going in the bottom of the inning. Easton Brock led off reaching on an error by second baseman Joey Mushalla. Two pitches later from Eagles' lefty Kellan Elsbury, Andrew Wilson doubled over the head of centerfielder Nolan Elsbury and Easton Brock scored with ease for the first run of the game.
Zionsville tied it up in the top of the 4th. Ben Kocher doubled to left and was driven home a couple hitters later by Grant Sloan.
The Eagles took the lead in the 5th inning with a Mushalla RBI-single that scored Evan Miiller for a 2-1 Zionsville lead.
It didn't take long at all for Noblesville to tie it up once again. Andrew Wilson took a one-out, 2-0 fastball that was right down the pipe for a ride over the left field fence for a solo home run.
Zionsville's RJ Wagner and Noblesville's Cory Conway came out of their respective bullpens in the sixth inning and did their best to keep the opponent off the base paths.
Wagner gave up two hits in the 6th and 7th and walked one.
Conway pitched just the 7th, but that's all that he needed to mix things up. After St. Pierre left runners at first and second, Sloan grounded to Connor Christman at third. The sophomore Christman smartly stepped on third and threw to first, but with his throw being a little late, Sloan was credited with a fielder's choice. That still left the Eagles with two on and one out.
But, it didn't phase Conway much with the bases loaded. He struck out Glen Collier (looking) and Miiller on a swinging, dropped third strike to end the 6th and leaving 3 Eagles on base.
Noblesville was able to get a couple hits in the sixth and seventh, but weren't able to get anyone home during those two frames.
Dax McLochlin came in out of the Miller bullpen in the 7th and finished things off in the 8th. The junior made quick work in both innings of the Eagles, getting one groundout, 3 outs in the air and striking out a pair, including Sloan to end the top of the 8th.
It looked like we were going to be playing nine innings, as McLochlin and Vinny Essig both grounded out to give Zionsville's defense a little hope. Trevor Salmon walked and Matt Swearingen came in to pinch run.
Zack St. Pierre stepped to the plate and had the look like he was going to make something happen and that's exactly what he did. St. P had a 1-0 count and belted a high fastball to deep right and over the fence for a walk-off two-run home run, emptying the dugout in celebration!
Wilson and St. Pierre finished the ball game with identical stat lines, both having 2-for-4 nights with two RBI's and a run scored apiece. Brian McLean joined the two also going 2-for-4.
Noblesville 4, Zionsville 3 - (Saturday, April 26 - at Zionsville)
Millers 1 0 2 0 0 1 0 - 4 13 1
Eagles 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 - 3 6 2
There might not be a better thing from the standpoint of pitching and depth with your starters. Dax McLochlin came in late in the first game of the series on Thursday and won the game and worked two innings in relief.
Saturday afternoon was a similar situation. That's the beauty of head coach Justin Keever and pitching coach Greg Vogt's pitching staff.
Trevor Salmon worked the first four innings, only allowing two runs (one earned), scattering just four hits, walking three and also K-ing three to up his record to 3-2 on the season.
Garrett Christman came to the mound from his shortstop position to pitch the final three in relief. GC struck out five in his three innings, giving up just two hits, walking one and allowing just one run (earned) to earn the save.
Brian McLean and Garrett each had stellar days that the plate, both went 4-for-4 at the plate and scored a run apiece.
Vinny Essig came through once again with two RBI's, one on a fielder's choice and the other via a sacrifice fly.
Michael Carmosino hit a double and scored during his at-bat. After an 0-3 night at the plate at home vs. Zionsville on Thursday, Connor Christman had a much better day at the plate Saturday at Zionsville. The sophomore third baseman came through in the clutch in the 6th with an RBI-double.
Zionsville threatened in the bottom of the 6th by scoring a run, but Christman held tight and keep the Eagles from scoring in their final attempt, securing a 4-3 road win and sweeping Zionsville.
The loss dropped Zionsville to 8-7 overall and 2-4 in the HCC. Noblesville kept its winning streak going to 4-games and improved their overall mark to 11-4 and lead the HCC with a 5-1 record.
Noblesville hits the road on Tuesday to face Lafayette Jeff at Loeb Stadium in Lafayette at 6 p.m. The two longtime HCC foes meet again on Thursday at The Dunk in Noblesville, also starting at 6 p.m. That will be the final time that the Bronchos and Millers meet as members of the Hoosier Crossroads Conference rivals, as Lafayette Jeff, along with McCutcheon and Harrison (West Lafayette), will all three be moving to the North Central Conference this fall.
As per usual, it is much appreciated that you're reading my blog. If you like what you're reading, feel free to follow me on Twitter at @MillerVoiceNDCB. GO MILLERS!
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