Even before the HCC dropped from 10 schools to seven just two school years ago, it was still considered one of, if not the, toughest conference in most sports, if not all. This is what makes every sport in the HCC as competitive as it is on a statewide level.
Hoosier Crossroads Conference baseball was in great shape before teams even took the field this spring, according to the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association (ihsbca.org) poll, as well as the PBR Indiana (prepbaseballreport.com/indiana) poll.
This week, the Fishers-Noblesville series has turned into a wrap around series, stemming from last week because of the inclement weather that postponed Friday night's game to Monday and now Tuesday night. Fishers comes in as PBR-Indiana ranked #11 and Noblesville remains at #10. The Millers, dropped to #10 in the IHSBCA poll, while the Tigers are receiving votes in the coaches poll.
GAME 1: Fishers grabs series opener after controversial ending
4A #9 Fishers 9, 4A #7 Noblesville 6 - at The Dunk (Thur. April 7, 2016)
4A #9 Fishers 9, 4A #7 Noblesville 6 - at The Dunk (Thur. April 7, 2016)
Tigers 1 1 0 6 0 0 1 - 9 9 3
Millers 0 5 0 0 0 0 1 - 6 6 2
Fishers wasted no time trying to get ahead of the Millers. They did so in the top of the 1st with a two-out solo home run by Craig Yoho off of senior Clayton Marowski, that was aided by around 15-20 m.p.h. winds to right and right center.
The Tigers tacked on another in the top of the 2nd. A Mike Folta infield since drove in Taylor Soper and Fishers had jumped out to a 2-0 lead on the host Millers.
But, that slight edge wouldn't last long as the Noblesville offense would get itself started, making starting pitcher Ryan Metz feel not-so-comfortable on the mound.
With three walks and hitting two batters, Metz got himself into quite a hole. Bryce Masterson started the bottom of two by K-ing and was followed by Alex Cleverly walking. His courtesy runner (Neil Brown) was picked off of first base to put the second out on the scoreboard rather quickly.
Ty Lindstrand walked, followed by Austin Shirley getting plunked right in the back and Jackson Thurman also getting pegged to load the bases for Harris Camp. The junior CF Camp would also walk, driving Lindstrand in to cut the Fishers lead to 2-1.
Back to the top of the order, Travis Gillian reached on an error by the second baseman Yoho that allowed both Shirley and Thurman to sprint home, putting the Millers up 3-2. The scoring spree would continue with Michael Carmosino drilling a 2-1 pitch to the fence in center for a two-run double, scoring Camp and Gillian for a 5-2 Noblesville lead through two.
The Tigers weren't going to go away quietly or all, if you ask them about Game 1 of the series. Matthew Wolff singled to second for an infield hit. Luke Duermit walked. Then, Soper singled to center, sending Wolff home for 5-3.
DH Alex Jamieson got aboard on an error by Masterson at first, loading the bases with Duermit and Soper at 3rd and 2nd, respectively. Andy Bennett singled to center to score Soper to make it 5-4, Fishers down one.
Caleb Brencsewski took a Marowski pitch to center off of the fence for a 3-run triple for a 6-run 4th inning, putting the visitors back on top 7-6. Brenczewski would score on a passed ball that made the score 8-6.
Fishers would add another in the top of the 7th when Yoho walked. He was able to score two batters later on Wolff's sacrifice fly that gave the Tigers a four run cushion at 9-5.
Noblesville was looking for a comeback in the bottom of the 7th, trailing by four runs.
Carmosino was hit by a pitch from reliever Craig Yoho to get the Millers a runner aboard right away. Three pitches later, Connor Christman chopped an RBI-double to left, scoring Carmo with ease and cutting the deficit to 9-6.
Here's where it got just a little dicey.
Masterson walked for two runners on base and Julian Simac came in to courtesy run. Elliot Gilmore was now in to pitch in relief of Yoho. Cleverly foul tipped out for the first out of the inning. Ty Lindstrand came up next walking and loading the bases.
Austin Shirley hit a ground ball to the shortstop Andy Bennett, forcing Shirley out at first, as well as the lead runner that had just touched home plate.
The confusing thing about this final play of the game was that the base umpire said that Lindstrand popped up quickly from his slide into second base, creating an obstruction (runner interference). That called for Shirley to be out on the play at first and the lead runner (Christman) to also be out, unfortunately ending the game.
Noblesville's team replay camera from center field view, as well as Aimee Shirley's cell phone video, both were conclusive that Lindstrand didn't pop up out of his slide into second, making the umpire's assumption completely wrong.
That would have scored both Christman and Simac and the Millers down 9-8 with one out. They would also have had Lindstrand at 2nd and Shirley at first and a great situation to possibly stage the comeback for the win. Unfortunately, an umpire assuming that something happened cost them the game.
GAME 2: Conway cruises as Noblesville evens series up
4A #7 Noblesville 8, 4A #9 Fishers 3 - at The Dunk (Thur. April 7, 2016)
Tigers 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 - 3 6 3
Millers 0 0 2 2 3 1 x - 8 10 0
Playing a doubleheader on a weeknight in early spring could be a good or bad idea, depending on the air temperatures, especially here in the state of Indiana. With the forecast calling for a high between 33 and 45 on Saturday, the Millers second home game of the series was moved up to Thursday.
The first game of the double-dip started at 4pm, because it was a school night. This meant that Noblesville senior ace Cory Conway would be pitching under the lights with a chance to even up the series.
Five strikeouts through three innings had Conway moving right along and he just needed offensive support to keep it going.
Christman singled to left with two down and was driven home by Bryce Masterson's double to the right center fence for the first run of the game. Masterson would score just moments later on an error by Fishers catcher Alex Jamieson to put the Millers in front 2-0 through three.
Caleb Brenczewski took the second pitch he saw in the 4th and sent it to the fence in left for a leadoff double. Yoho grounded out to Lindstrand at first, advancing Brenczewski to third with one away. Matthew Wolff dropped down a perfect bunt to single home Brenczewski to get the Tigers on the board, trailing 2-1. The catcher Jamieson walked and then he and Wolff were sent home for a 3-2 Fishers lead on a two-run single from the bat of Taylor Soper.
That was all of the offense that Conway would allow the rest of the night.
The Millers tacked on another pair in the 4th and really got to starter Cameron Boyd. Harris Camp walked with one out and he sprinted home on Michael Carmosino's infield single in the hole at short to tie it 3-3, after Camp stole both 2nd and 3rd. Carmo scored on a wild pitch by Boyd and the Millers regained the lead, 4-3, which they wouldn't give up again.
Two quick outs in the bottom of the 5th and the Miller offense felt pressured, so what better to do than relax and score some more runs. Jackson Thurman singled with two down. Harris Camp reached on an error by Brenczewski at third and Gillian walked to load em up. Carmosino reached on an error by Yoho at short, scoring Thurman. Next, Connor Christman hits a two-run double into the left field corner, plating both Camp and Gillian for three Noblesville runs, breaking it open at 7-3.
Ty Lindstrand got the last of the 6th going with a bunt single and was doubled home on Austin Shirley's two-bagger to deep left center, which would account for the final score of 8-3.
Cory Conway finished with a complete game striking out 7, giving up 6 hits and walking just two.
GAME 3: Shirley's bat, Owens/Conway pitching combo shuts out Tigers, wins series
4A #7 Noblesville 3, 4A #9 Fishers 0 - at Fishers (Monday, April 11, 2016)
Millers 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 - 3 4 0
Tigers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 2 5
Sophomore Tyler Owens hit the hill for Noblesville to see if he could help get the Millers the series win in the rubber match. In his first appearance since Friday, April 1st, when Owens tossed 2.2 innings and gave up five hits in relief during his varsity debut in the Millers' first loss of the year at Riverdale.
On Monday, April 11th, Tyler was in a different mindset. He threw 4.1 innings and only gave up just one hit to the Fishers Tigers, striking out three and walking four in an effort to earn his first win at the varsity level.
It honestly didn't take or require much offense for the Millers to get the conference road win. They relied on their stellar pitching duo of Tyler Owens and Cory Conway that clamp down and solve Fishers to up their HCC record to 2-1.
Presented with a great situation to produce a run, Austin Shirley rose up to the occasion. Shirley belted an RBI-double to left that would score Jackson Thurman to get Noblesville and early 1-0 lead in the top of the 2nd.
Two more runs would touch home in the top of the 6th. Bryce Masterson led off reaching on an error by Yoho at second. Ty Lindstrand grounded a single to right for two runners aboard. Julian Simac came in to courtesy run for Masterson. Simac would score on a passed ball to make it 2-0.
Austin Shirley came through again for the Millers, lining an RBI-single to left, scoring Lindstrand for the final count of 3-0.
Cory Conway relieved Owens and pretty much dominated the Tigers offense down the stretch. the senior southpaw threw 2.2 frames, also allowing just one hit, walking one and fanning three hitters to earn the save.
Fishers wasted no time trying to get ahead of the Millers. They did so in the top of the 1st with a two-out solo home run by Craig Yoho off of senior Clayton Marowski, that was aided by around 15-20 m.p.h. winds to right and right center.
The Tigers tacked on another in the top of the 2nd. A Mike Folta infield since drove in Taylor Soper and Fishers had jumped out to a 2-0 lead on the host Millers.
But, that slight edge wouldn't last long as the Noblesville offense would get itself started, making starting pitcher Ryan Metz feel not-so-comfortable on the mound.
With three walks and hitting two batters, Metz got himself into quite a hole. Bryce Masterson started the bottom of two by K-ing and was followed by Alex Cleverly walking. His courtesy runner (Neil Brown) was picked off of first base to put the second out on the scoreboard rather quickly.
Ty Lindstrand walked, followed by Austin Shirley getting plunked right in the back and Jackson Thurman also getting pegged to load the bases for Harris Camp. The junior CF Camp would also walk, driving Lindstrand in to cut the Fishers lead to 2-1.
Back to the top of the order, Travis Gillian reached on an error by the second baseman Yoho that allowed both Shirley and Thurman to sprint home, putting the Millers up 3-2. The scoring spree would continue with Michael Carmosino drilling a 2-1 pitch to the fence in center for a two-run double, scoring Camp and Gillian for a 5-2 Noblesville lead through two.
The Tigers weren't going to go away quietly or all, if you ask them about Game 1 of the series. Matthew Wolff singled to second for an infield hit. Luke Duermit walked. Then, Soper singled to center, sending Wolff home for 5-3.
DH Alex Jamieson got aboard on an error by Masterson at first, loading the bases with Duermit and Soper at 3rd and 2nd, respectively. Andy Bennett singled to center to score Soper to make it 5-4, Fishers down one.
Caleb Brencsewski took a Marowski pitch to center off of the fence for a 3-run triple for a 6-run 4th inning, putting the visitors back on top 7-6. Brenczewski would score on a passed ball that made the score 8-6.
Fishers would add another in the top of the 7th when Yoho walked. He was able to score two batters later on Wolff's sacrifice fly that gave the Tigers a four run cushion at 9-5.
Noblesville was looking for a comeback in the bottom of the 7th, trailing by four runs.
Carmosino was hit by a pitch from reliever Craig Yoho to get the Millers a runner aboard right away. Three pitches later, Connor Christman chopped an RBI-double to left, scoring Carmo with ease and cutting the deficit to 9-6.
Here's where it got just a little dicey.
Masterson walked for two runners on base and Julian Simac came in to courtesy run. Elliot Gilmore was now in to pitch in relief of Yoho. Cleverly foul tipped out for the first out of the inning. Ty Lindstrand came up next walking and loading the bases.
Austin Shirley hit a ground ball to the shortstop Andy Bennett, forcing Shirley out at first, as well as the lead runner that had just touched home plate.
The confusing thing about this final play of the game was that the base umpire said that Lindstrand popped up quickly from his slide into second base, creating an obstruction (runner interference). That called for Shirley to be out on the play at first and the lead runner (Christman) to also be out, unfortunately ending the game.
Noblesville's team replay camera from center field view, as well as Aimee Shirley's cell phone video, both were conclusive that Lindstrand didn't pop up out of his slide into second, making the umpire's assumption completely wrong.
That would have scored both Christman and Simac and the Millers down 9-8 with one out. They would also have had Lindstrand at 2nd and Shirley at first and a great situation to possibly stage the comeback for the win. Unfortunately, an umpire assuming that something happened cost them the game.
GAME 2: Conway cruises as Noblesville evens series up
4A #7 Noblesville 8, 4A #9 Fishers 3 - at The Dunk (Thur. April 7, 2016)
Tigers 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 - 3 6 3
Millers 0 0 2 2 3 1 x - 8 10 0
Playing a doubleheader on a weeknight in early spring could be a good or bad idea, depending on the air temperatures, especially here in the state of Indiana. With the forecast calling for a high between 33 and 45 on Saturday, the Millers second home game of the series was moved up to Thursday.
The first game of the double-dip started at 4pm, because it was a school night. This meant that Noblesville senior ace Cory Conway would be pitching under the lights with a chance to even up the series.
Five strikeouts through three innings had Conway moving right along and he just needed offensive support to keep it going.
Christman singled to left with two down and was driven home by Bryce Masterson's double to the right center fence for the first run of the game. Masterson would score just moments later on an error by Fishers catcher Alex Jamieson to put the Millers in front 2-0 through three.
Caleb Brenczewski took the second pitch he saw in the 4th and sent it to the fence in left for a leadoff double. Yoho grounded out to Lindstrand at first, advancing Brenczewski to third with one away. Matthew Wolff dropped down a perfect bunt to single home Brenczewski to get the Tigers on the board, trailing 2-1. The catcher Jamieson walked and then he and Wolff were sent home for a 3-2 Fishers lead on a two-run single from the bat of Taylor Soper.
That was all of the offense that Conway would allow the rest of the night.
The Millers tacked on another pair in the 4th and really got to starter Cameron Boyd. Harris Camp walked with one out and he sprinted home on Michael Carmosino's infield single in the hole at short to tie it 3-3, after Camp stole both 2nd and 3rd. Carmo scored on a wild pitch by Boyd and the Millers regained the lead, 4-3, which they wouldn't give up again.
Two quick outs in the bottom of the 5th and the Miller offense felt pressured, so what better to do than relax and score some more runs. Jackson Thurman singled with two down. Harris Camp reached on an error by Brenczewski at third and Gillian walked to load em up. Carmosino reached on an error by Yoho at short, scoring Thurman. Next, Connor Christman hits a two-run double into the left field corner, plating both Camp and Gillian for three Noblesville runs, breaking it open at 7-3.
Ty Lindstrand got the last of the 6th going with a bunt single and was doubled home on Austin Shirley's two-bagger to deep left center, which would account for the final score of 8-3.
Cory Conway finished with a complete game striking out 7, giving up 6 hits and walking just two.
GAME 3: Shirley's bat, Owens/Conway pitching combo shuts out Tigers, wins series
4A #7 Noblesville 3, 4A #9 Fishers 0 - at Fishers (Monday, April 11, 2016)
Millers 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 - 3 4 0
Tigers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 2 5
Sophomore Tyler Owens hit the hill for Noblesville to see if he could help get the Millers the series win in the rubber match. In his first appearance since Friday, April 1st, when Owens tossed 2.2 innings and gave up five hits in relief during his varsity debut in the Millers' first loss of the year at Riverdale.
On Monday, April 11th, Tyler was in a different mindset. He threw 4.1 innings and only gave up just one hit to the Fishers Tigers, striking out three and walking four in an effort to earn his first win at the varsity level.
It honestly didn't take or require much offense for the Millers to get the conference road win. They relied on their stellar pitching duo of Tyler Owens and Cory Conway that clamp down and solve Fishers to up their HCC record to 2-1.
Presented with a great situation to produce a run, Austin Shirley rose up to the occasion. Shirley belted an RBI-double to left that would score Jackson Thurman to get Noblesville and early 1-0 lead in the top of the 2nd.
Two more runs would touch home in the top of the 6th. Bryce Masterson led off reaching on an error by Yoho at second. Ty Lindstrand grounded a single to right for two runners aboard. Julian Simac came in to courtesy run for Masterson. Simac would score on a passed ball to make it 2-0.
Austin Shirley came through again for the Millers, lining an RBI-single to left, scoring Lindstrand for the final count of 3-0.
Cory Conway relieved Owens and pretty much dominated the Tigers offense down the stretch. the senior southpaw threw 2.2 frames, also allowing just one hit, walking one and fanning three hitters to earn the save.
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