Prior to Saturday night's game at The Dunk with Frankfort, there was a good vibe throughout the complex, to say the least. Noblesville was riding a 6-game winning streak that includes series sweeps over Brownsburg (then-ranked), Zionsville and Lafayette Jeff.
Frankfort came to Noblesville with a pretty decent season to date with a 9-5 overall record and 4-2 in the Sagamore Conference.
The connection with this game being scheduled is pretty simple and makes sense. Frankfort could wind up making some noise in their 3A sectional here in a few weeks and they could probably learn a lot from playing a team like Noblesville. Also, Noblesville hitting/3rd base coach Kevin Fitzgerald was in Frankfort head coach Andy Dudley's wedding.
This game could also be an exposure game for sophomore starting pitcher Jarrod Smith. He's the three-sport star athlete at Frankfort. Starting running back for the football team, point guard on the hardwood for the Hot Dogs and ace pitcher/outfielder for the baseball team. Just a sophomore, I'm sure we'll be seeing and hearing about Smith in his final two years as a high school student-athlete.
4A #8 Noblesville 10, Frankfort 1 - (Saturday, May 3 at The Dunk)
Hot Dogs 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 - 1 4 2
Millers 2 2 0 3 0 3 x - 10 13 2
Dax McLochlin got the start on the mound and looked to move his record to 4-0, but more importantly, improve Noblesville's overall record with a victory.
The junior right-hander was dialed in on the bump from the get-go. Working 5 solid innings, Dax kept the Hot Dogs' offense in check, only allowing 3 hits, walking one and fanning three.
The Millers' offense got started right away in their half of the 1st. Andrew Wilson grounded out and Brian McLean walked to start off the inning. Garrett Christman dropped a single to shallow right-center to move Mclean over to third into scoring position. Dax walked for Millers on all three bases. Essig stepped in the box next and knocked a 2-2 two-run single to score both McLean and Garrett for a 2-0 Noblesville lead after one.
Back at it in the bottom of two, the Millers had two quick outs at the dish before they scored another pair under that two-out pressure.
Wilson walked and was followed by McLean doubling him home for the third Miller run. GC came up next and lined a single up the middle and into center field to score McLean easily from second. Noblesville was sitting comfortable at 4-0 through two.
Keever's crew was eager to keep the bats going and that's what they did again in the 4th. Jarrod Smith seemed taken by surprise being roughed up by Noblesville like he was.
Andrew Wilson drew his second straight base-on-balls. McLean singled Wilson to second. Then, the two put on a double steal for runners at second and third. With Garrett Christman up, a Jarrod Smith pitch bounced in the dirt and catcher Diego Santos couldn't handle it and Wilson made his way across home plate via an error by Santos.
McLean was now at 3rd and four pitches later was driven in on a Dax McLochlin single to left and just like that, it was 6-0.
Dudley made a pitching change and brought in Leovardo Lopez. The junior Lopez got off to a pretty shaky start. Pinch runner Matt Swearingen did get caught stealing while Essig was up. Then, Vinny walked. Zack St. Pierre was hit by a pitch and he and Essig both advanced on a wild pitch by Lopez. That gave Noblesville runners in scoring position and 2nd and 3rd. Essig scored on an error on Lopez on the mound for a 7-0 score.
Frankfort was able to get some production out of their offense in the top of the 6th. Cory Conway was now in out of the Miller bullpen to get some work in. The sophomore reliever struck out Jose Valdes (looking) to get comfortable. Jarrod Smith reached base for his second time on error. This time it was third baseman Connor Christman that wasn't able to handle Smith's groundball. Smith got to 2nd on a passed ball and to 3rd on a wild pitch. Leovardo Lopez hooked a single past Garrett Christman at short, scoring Smith for the Hot Dogs' lone run of the night.
The Millers were bound and determined to keep the offensive output flowing in the bottom of the 6th and they did.
It was the second full inning that Daniel Santos was in to pitch in relief for Frankfort. He struck out three Millers in the 5th and was trying to duplicate that in the 6th.
Noblesville had other things in mind, like putting more runs on the scoreboard and furthering the gap between they and the Hot Dogs.
Essig led off with a walk. Santos attempted to pick him off at first, but overthrew Christ Stuard at first and Vinny sprinted his way to third. Santos was able to retire St. Pierre and Salmon to get two fast outs. Connor Christman walked. Santos balked, which got Christman to second and allowed Vinny to walk home and touch the plate.
Austin Shirley came in to pinch hit for Easton Brock. Shirley singled on a liner up the middle into centerfield, scoring Christman from second. Wilson singled to follow Shirley. McLean picked up RBI #2, as he singled to left to send Shirley home to give the final score of 10-1 out on the left field score board.
Zack St. Pierre came in to pitch the top of the 7th to keep his arm loose for a busy HCC schedule this week. The senior southpaw threw 12 pitches (9 strikes), struck out the side to end the game.
Dax McLochlin picked up the win, improving his record on the mound to 4-0. Between he, Conway and St. Pierre, they sent down 8 Frankfort batters on strikes. A great combined effort by the trio to only allow one run and four hits.
Brian McLean highlighted the Miller hitting, going 4-for-4 with a walk, double and 3 singles, while scoring 3 runs, driving in two runs and not to mention, 2 stolen bases. Garrett Christman had a 3-for-4 night at the plate. Essig drove in a pair of runs on his two-run single in the first and Austin Shirley had a great pinch-hit plate appearance to single and drive in a run.
Frankfort drops to 9-6 overall on the season and Noblesville keeps its winning streak to seven games in a row and winners of 8 of their last 10.
The Millers start a pretty busy and pivotal week in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference. McCutcheon comes to The Dunk on Monday and the Millers make the trip to Lafayette to play Game 2 of the series, both being 6 p.m. starts.
Later in the week, Noblesville travels to Avon on Friday evening for a 6 p.m. first pitch. The Orioles come to The Dunk on Saturday at noon to wrap up the week in Game 2 of the series.
7th Annual Millerball Golf Outing
Just a quick reminder to all of you out there to get signed up for the 7th Annual Millerball Golf Outing. This year it will be held once again at Fox Prairie Golf Course in Noblesville on Monday, June 23.
10th year head coach Justin Keever and his Noblesville High School baseball staff, along with past players and friends invite you for a fun, competitive round of golf in the 6th Annual Noblesville Miller Baseball Golf Outing at Fox Prairie Golf Course in Noblesville, IN. The format will be a Florida Scramble. Teams will compete for cash prizes, buy mulligans, win prizes, and participate in our silent auction and raffle. Money will go to fund the 2015 Spring Trip to Tennessee, equipment, full infield tarp, and Dunker Field Maintenance.
Register your foursomes and/or make your donations at www.millerball.com. All the details you will need involving the 7th Annual Millerball Golf Outing can be found on the front page of the official web site of Noblesville Miller baseball, www.millerball.com.
Registration and silent auction begin at 12 p.m. Foursomes will be spread out throughout the course and there will be a shot gun start at 1 p.m. Lunch will be provided beforehand and dinner will be in the pavilion at Fox Prairie Golf Course, along with post-season awards for the Noblesville Miller baseball teams.
It's going to be a great week of Millerball! GO MILLERS!
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