Greenfield-Central’s Andrew Zellers celebrates with his teammates after hitting a first-inning home run against Delta Wednesday.
Mike Brown | For The Daily Reporter
By Brady Extin | Daily Reporter
GREENFIELD — On Tuesday night, on the road at Delta, Greenfield-Central put up 12 runs on 16 hits en route to a win.
On Wednesday, they matched that offensive output, recording 16 hits and 13 runs. This time, though, in front of their home fans.
The Cougars (6-1-1, 4-0) defeated the Eagles (1-8, 0-6) 13-3 to pick up their second Hoosier Heritage Conference sweep of the season, already matching last year’s total.
“Sweeps in the conference are always good. It’s a great way to start the year,” Greenfield-Central head coach Mark Vail said. “We’ve hit the ball really well which is nice, and we’ve actually done pretty much everything well which has been nice.”
Starting pitcher Jaden Markus worked around two walks in the top of the first inning by striking out the Eagles’ No. 2, No. 3, and No. 5 hitters. The rest of his outing was stress-free, after the Cougars put up a nine-spot in the bottom of the frame.
Greenfield-Central sent 13 batters to the plate, recorded seven hits, and smacked two home runs.
Leadoff hitter Kirk Knecht and No. 3 hitter Andrew Zellers each had two hits in the inning, and both went deep.
Zellers’ long ball got the Cougars on the board, and his second hit of the inning drove in the final Cougars run. After a Knecht single to open up the frame, his no-doubter over the left field fence began the offensive onslaught for the Cougars, and later in the inning he recorded his third RBI on a double to right center.
Sprinkled in between the Zellers hits were an A.J. Oden RBI-single, a Zach Austin two-run double, and a Knecht two-run home run.
Zellers and Knecht both ended the night a perfect 3-for-3, and Zellers led G-C with three RBIs.
“Those two have been very, very good at the top of our lineup to start the season,” Vail said. “They’ve got a lot of confidence, they’re relaxed, and they’re swinging at the right pitches. They’re just doing everything right at the plate right now.”
An RBI-single by Markus in the fourth, and then three more runs in the sixth, ended the game early.
“We hit it really well early and then kind of took about a five-inning rest, but finished off strong,” Vail said. “Nothing to complain about.”
On the night, the Cougars sent 17 different batters to the plate, with three bench players recording hits, and four total reaching base. Two of the final three G-C runs were knocked in by pinch-hitters.
Elvin Sanchez crushed his second home run of the season, and Alex Thresh drove in a run for G-C in the sixth before starting left fielder Grant Shepard drove in Thresh with a triple to close things out.
Ten Cougars recorded hits, and eight notched an RBI.
“We’ve been able to get a lot of guys in, and the good thing is that I have a lot of confidence in everyone,” Vail said. “A lot of the guys that came off the bench got hits. We have a lot of people that can swing the bat.”
While the offense was lights out, so was the pitching. Markus went five innings for the Cougars, striking out 11 while allowing just two hits and three runs. Delta’s Kaeb Stebbins recorded both hits, one being a two-run home run.
“He’s [Markus] not been as sharp as I think he’s going to be later on, but he’s been out there a few times, and he’s looked pretty good so far,” Vail said.
Parker Rhodes sent the Eagles down in order in his lone inning of work, adding two more strikeouts to the G-C total. Delta sent 24 batters to the plate, and only six reached base, while 13 were sent down on strikes. That topped Tuesday night’s showing, where Zellers and Connor Sims struck out 11 Eagles.
Greenfield-Central plays host to Fishers on Saturday in a doubleheader. Game No. 1 is scheduled for 10 a.m., with game No. 2 to follow.
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Greenfield-Central 13, Delta 3
Delta (1-8, 0-6);020;100; — ;3;2;1
Greenfield-Central (6-1-1, 4-0);900;103; — ;13;16;0
Kayden Thomas, Myles Enos (1), JB Claborn (5) and Brady Carrigan. Jaden Markus, Parker Rhodes (6) and Brodie Mayberry, Karson Gantt (2). 2B: G-C— Zach Austin, Andrew Zellers, Alex Thresh. 3B: G-C — Grant Shepard. HR: D – Kaeb Stebbins. G-C — Zellers (1), Kirk Knecht (1), Elvin Sanchez (2). WP: Jaden Markus (1-0). LP: Kayden Thomas (0-2).
