NOBLESVILLE — Two Hoosier Crossroads Conference baseball powers kept the bases occupied in the finale of their three-game conference series.

The top of the first was the only half inning either team did not have at least one baserunner in a contest that saw visiting Zionsville defeat Noblesville 12-7 Thursday, April 19 at Dunker Field.

Noblesville (14) and Zionsville (12) combined to leave 26 runners on base in the 3-hour, 12-minute affair.

The Class 4A No. 14-ranked Eagles (8-2, 4-2) piled up 14 hits — four by senior A.J. Cantrell, three by senior Stephen Karis and two by senior Riley Bertam — in winning its seventh straight game.

Cantrell, Karis, Bertram and junior Jack Firestone all drove in two runs while Cantrell, Firestone and seniors Kyle Callahan and Sam Edgell scored two runs each for the Eagles.

“Our offense has been good all year,” said Zionsville coach Jered Moore. “We’ve got a lot of seniors. Even when they get down in the count, they’re not easy outs.

“The experience and the success they’ve had carries over into games like this.” The 13th-ranked Millers (6-8, 3-6) produced five hits and got two runs batted in each from senior Jacob Thieman and junior Cade Nelis while suffering their fourth straight loss.

Each team employed four pitchers — senior left-handers Owen Evans and Ben Calisto and junior southpaw Miles Hegeduis and senior right-hander Sam Gall for the Eagles and junior right-handers Reese Sharp and senior right-hander Kade Gorman, junior lefty Zach Gruver and sophomore righty Camden Nagel for the Millers.

Calisto (2 innings, 1 run, 1 hit, 3 walks, 2 strikeouts) was the winning pitcher. Gorman (2 2/3 innings, 6 runs, 8 hits, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts) took the loss.

“We walked too many guys (9), didn’t make enough plays defensively and didn’t capitalize offensively,” said Noblesville coach Justin Keever. “We had a lot of opportunities.

“(Zionsville) is a good-hitting ball club. They are going to continue to spoil pitches. You get behind in the count and make a mistake and they’re going to put the barrel on it.”

The Millers loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning against Hegeduis (2 2/3 innings, 1 run, hits, 4 walks, 3 strikeouts).

Gall (1/3 inning, 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 walk, 0 strikeouts) came on in relief of Hegeduis and walked Thieman to force in junior D.J. Owens (who walked) then got the last out of a fly-out.

The Eagles collected three runs off Nagel (1 1/3 innings, 4 runs, 2 hits, 3 walks, 0 strikeouts) in the top of the seventh for a 12-6 lead.

Callahan took a lead-off walk and later scored on a wild pitch.

A two-run double to left by Firestone plated senior courtesy runner

Thomas Theibar (running for Karis following his single to left) and Edgell (who walked).

A double to right by Cantrell pushed Firestone across with Zionsville’s 12th run.

After Hegeduis fanned the first two batters in the Noblesville sixth, the Millers started a rally with two straight walks. But the southpaw got a called third strike to end the threat.

The Millers scored one run in the fifth — charged to Calisto — to cut the Zionsville lead to 8-6.

Junior Zac Tuinei walked a later scored on a two-out single to right field by D.J. Owens.

The Eagles notched two runs in the fifth for an 8-5 edge.

Cantrell bashed a lead-off double to left field and scored on a Noblesville throwing error.

Junior Evan Bohrer walked and junior courtesy runner Hopper Bumgardner later scored on a one-out single by right by Bertram.

Zionsville left the bases loaded.

The Eagles put up two runs in the fourth — both charged to Gorman — to assume a 6-5 lead.

Junior Hayden Elsbury singled to center and Callahan rapped a one-out double to left. Both scored on a single to center by Karis.

The inning ended with catcher Ethan Imel — after retrieving a Gruver wild pitch — tossing to Gruver (2 1/3 innings, 2 runs, 4 hits, 5 walks, 3 strikeouts) to retire runner Karis at the plate.

Calisto took the mound for Zionsville in the third.

After two strikeouts, the Millers loaded the bases then Calisto coaxed an rally-stifling pop-up.

The Eagles tallied one run off Gorman in the third to pull within 5-4 of Noblesville.

Karis led off with an infield single and later scored on a fielder’s choice by Firestone.

The Millers took a 5-3 advantage with one run off Evans (2 innings, 5 runs, 3 hits, 3 walks, 2 strikeouts) in the second.

Senior Tyler Owens drew a lead-off walk, moved around around to third base on two wild pitches and scored on a sacrifice fly to center by senior Mark Goudy.

Zionsville produced three runs against Gorman in the second to shave Noblesville’s lead to 4-3.

Edgell pulled a solo home run to right field on a 1-0 Gorman pitch to lead off the frame.

Firestone reached on a fielder’s choice and scored the Eagles’ second run on a one-out single to left by Bohrer.

Bertram smacked a double to left-center to drive in Cantrell (who was on base with a single to center).

With Evans pitching for Zionsville, Noblesville scored four unearned runs in the bottom of the first for a 4-0 lead.

Tyler Owens led off with a double to left field, moved to third base on a groundout by D.J. Owens and scored when the Eagles misplayed a ball off the bat of Gorman.

A two-out double to left by Thieman plated courtesy runner Gruver (who was running for Gorman).

Nelis delivered a two-run single to left to drive in Thieman and sophomore Cooper Miles (who was hit by an Evans pitch).

When Sharp (2/3 innings, 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 walks, 1 strikeout) hurt himself pitching to the the third batter in the top of the first inning, he was relieved by right-hander Gorman.

With two strikes on the batter, Gorman tossed one pitch for an inning-ending strikeout.

After prom Friday, April 20, Noblesville plays host to McCutcheon at 7
p.m. Saturday, April 21. Hamilton Southeastern goes to Zionsville
Wednesday, April 25.

SHOWCASES

SHOWCASE	STATE	DATE	LOCATION
Improve My Profile with HS Game Video	IN	06/03	Indiana
2018 Summer Trials	IN	06/05	Grand Park - Westfield, IN
2018 Top Prospect Games	IN	06/12	Purdue University - West Lafayette, IN
Future Prospects Showcase & Educational Camp	IN	06/26	Grand Park - Westfield, IN
Mid-Summer Open, Fort Wayne	IN	07/10	Carroll High School - Fort Wayne, IN
PBR ProCase - Midwest	IN	07/10	Silver Cross Field - Joliet, IL
Mid-Summer Open, Region	IN	07/17	Hobart High School
2018 Underclass Games (Invite Only)	IN	07/24	Indiana University - Bloomington, IN
Prospect Games at Notre Dame	IN	07/24	University of Notre Dame - Notre Dame, IN
2018 PBR Future Games (Indiana Invite Only)	IN	08/01	Grand Park - Westfield, IN
PBR Junior Future Games (Invite Only)	NATIONAL	08/02	Grand Park - Westfield, IN
GPA Games	IN	08/12	Lee Pfund Stadium - Carol Stream, IL