Fishers High School

The #3 Fishers Tigers Varsity Baseball Team (20-4/10-1) came from behind early and then won it in extras 6-5 over Franklin Central Flashes. The Flashes jumped out to an early 4-0 lead after 2 innings. The Tigers finally crossed the plate in the top of the 3rd. Carter Strole led off with a single to right field. Strole stole 2nd and scored on Deagan Repp’s RBI double to left to cut the deficit to 4-1. The Flashes threatened again in the bottom of the 3rd. Two walks and a sacrifice bunt put runners at 2nd and 3rd with 1 out, but starting pitcher Owen Sanders settled down and recorded back-to-back strikeouts to end the threat and build momentum towards the Tigers comeback. The Tigers first 4 batters reached base in the top of the 4th. Luke Cherry led off the inning with a single to left. Trevor Hall reached on a fielder’s choice, but the Flashes throw to 2nd ended up in right field allowing Cherry to be safe at 2nd. Jase Ruggles followed with a 2-run double to right centerfield to cut the lead down to one, 4-3. Mayo Fernandez reached on an error before Strole’s sacrifice bunt put runners at 2nd and 3rd. Justin Brown lined the next pitch to centerfield for a 2-run single to give the Tigers a 5-4 lead. After a rough start, Sanders settled in and retired 10 of the final 13 batters he faced. Sanders did not allow a hit in the final 3.1 innings and recorded 5 strikeouts during that stretch. Overall, Sanders did not factor in the decision and pitched 5 innings, allowing 4 runs on 5 hits with 6 strikeouts and 4 walks. The Flashes were able to push across a run to tie the game in the 6th off of reliever Owen Lukac. Despite a leadoff single by Huston Dunn, the Tigers were unable to score in the top of the 7th. The Flashes threatened in the bottom of the 7th, but catcher Justin Brown threw out a runner trying to steal 3rd to end the inning. Fernandez singled with 1 out in the top of the 8th. Strole delivered the game winning RBI double into right centerfield to score Fernandez from 1st and give the Tigers a 6-5 lead. Reid Garber (5-0) pitched the final 2 innings of relief to earn the win on the mound. Garber did not give up a run, allowed 2 hits, and struck out 3. Cherry, Fernandez, and Strole led the Tigers with 2 hits each. Ruggles and Brown picked up 2 RBIs each, and Repp and Strole each knocked in 1 run. The Tigers host the same Franklin Central Flashes team on Friday night at 6:30pm. With a win on Friday night, the Tigers would clinch at least a share of the Hoosier Crossroads Conference Title.