Fishers High School

The #6 Fishers Tigers Varsity Baseball Team (2-3/0-0) split their final 2 games in Tennessee, losing the first game to Christian County (KY) 7-3 before defeating the #7 ranked team in Tennessee (Clarksville) on their home field 12-10 In the 1st Game, the Tigers only had 3 hits despite making a lot of hard contact right at defenders. The Tigers also fell behind by a score of 5-1 after 3 innings and could not overcome the early deficit. Starting pitcher Luke Benefiel struggled to work ahead, and Christian County took advantage of good hitter’s counts. Benefiel pitched 2.1 innings and allowed 5 earned runs on 5 hits while striking out 1. Jerry Jaramillo took over for Benefiel in relief and had a strong outing pitching 2.2 innings, allowing 1 run on 4 hits, while striking out 4. Grant Wolf also pitched 1 inning. Vincent Pecoraro and Drake Carnahan both had RBI singles. Owen Lukac had the Tigers 3rd hit when he beat out a ground ball on a routine play to shortstop. In the 2nd Game, the Tigers bats came alive, as they pounded out 15 hits to score 12 runs. The Tigers scored 2 runs in the 1st inning when Ethan Buelt, Carter Strole, and David Pina delivered 3 straight singles. Owen Lukac followed with an RBI groundout. The Tigers scored 4 runs in the 3rd. Vincent Pecoraro led off the inning with a triple down the left field line. Buelt followed with his 1st homerun of the season, a 2-run homerun to left. Strole started the rally again with a double. After Pina walked, Lukac and Sean Frey delivered back-to-back RBI sacrifice flies. The Tigers scored 3 runs in the 4th inning when Miles Tebben and Andrew Baldini hit back-to-back singles with nobody out. Pecoraro laid down a sacrifice bunt to move runners to 2nd and 3rd. With 2 outs, Strole reached on an error by the shortstop to extend the inning, and Pina followed with a 2-out RBI single. Strole would later school when the catcher tried to throw out Carter Davis stealing 2nd. The Tigers scored 3 more runs once again in the 6th inning. With 1 out, Strole connected on his 2nd double of the game. After Pina walked, Lukac lined a single to right field to load the bases. Sean Frey delivered a 2-run double down the left field line. Lukac eventually scored on a wild pitch to round out the scoring and give the Tigers a 12-5 lead. The Tigers pitchers allowed Clarksville to make it a close game, as they walked 6 straight batters, hit a batter, and walked the next one for 8 straight free bases. Once the dust settled, Clarksville had trimmed the lead to 12-10. Eli Poisel came on in the 7th inning and quickly closed the door with a 1-2-3 inning that included 2 strikeouts to earn his 1st save of the season. Jackson Spicer (1-0) pitched the 2nd inning and was the winning pitcher of record. Overall, the Tigers used 7 pitchers: Owen Porter, Spicer, Cooper Yeakle, Preston Tidwell, Collin Bumps, Baldini, and Poisel Offensively every Tiger in the lineup had a hit. Strole led the Tigers with a 3-5 day with 2 doubles, 3 stolen bases, and 4 runs scored. Buelt finished 2-4 with a homerun, 2 RBI, a walk and 2 runs. Baldini also finished 3-4, and Pina was on base all 4 at bats with 2 hits, 2 walks, and 2 RBI. Frey finished 1-3 with a double, sacrifice fly, and 3 RBI, and Lukac contributed 2 RBI. The Tigers return home from Tennessee and prepare for the start of the HCC schedule. The Tigers will host the Zionsville Eagles on Thursday, and then, travel to Zionsville on Friday. Both games will start at 6pm.