GREENFIELD — In a matchup of experienced vs. inexperienced, experienced won out.
With a starting lineup that included five seniors and three juniors, Noblesville, which had scored at least 10 runs in each of its previous three games, did so again, and handed the youthful Greenfield-Central Cougars softball team its third loss in as many games.
At Greenfield-Central High School Thursday, in G-C’s home opener, the Cougars were defeated by the Millers 15-0.
Noblesville senior shortstop Gabby Fowler had two home runs, including a grand slam, and drove in six. She has five home runs and 13 RBI in her team’s first four games.
“The Fowler girl, she’s a monster,” Greenfield-Central coach Gary Roberts said. “I was trying to pitch her off the plate, but [our pitchers] weren’t getting it off the plate. That’s what happens when you see a good hitter like that and you put a ball where she can tattoo it. She did it, twice.”
Greenfield-Central, without a senior on its team, and with three sophomores and a freshmen among the starters, had just one hit and four baserunners in the five-inning game.
“We’ve got a young pitching staff and [junior pitcher] Madysen [Herbert] has a toe that’s hurting pretty bad,” Roberts added. “We’ll get it figured out, but we have to hit too. We didn’t hit well. We hit well a couple of nights ago [in a loss at Hamilton Southeastern], but tonight we didn’t hit anything.
“We hit the ball in the air and that’s not our game. We’re not going to hit a lot of home runs. We need to string together hits and we just didn’t do it.”
G-C freshman pitcher Addie Heacox had a tough-luck first inning. A pair of soft singles from Noblesville’s Bella Hughes and Makayla Jacquay scored two runs each. Fowler had an RBI-single earlier in the inning. It all added up to a five-run frame.
A Fowler solo shot in the second, off G-C freshman reliever Ailea Dowdy gave the Millers a 6-0 lead. Fowler added her grand slam in a five-run third, extending the margin to 11-0.
Greenfield-Central’s lone hit came with two outs in the fourth inning.
Charlotte Riehle doubled to center field, but was left stranded. The only previous baserunner came in the second. Makenna Rankins drew a two-out walk and moved to second on a wild pitch, but was also left on base.
With one out in the fifth inning, Forshey was hit by pitch and Alyssa Greenwalt drew a walk.
Roberts said it’s been a rough week for his young team. The Cougars first three games this week were against strong veteran teams. The season-opener at Lapel was against a team that already had four games under its belt. Hamilton Southeastern has a 19-player roster with 13 seniors.
“It’s rough for them, but we’ll get it figured out,” Roberts said.
He added that his philosophy when taking over the program this year was to strengthen the schedule and play these type of teams to get them better for the latter part of the year and the postseason.
Roberts knows it will take a little time with such a young team.
“It’s a work in progress, and I’m a patient man.” he said.
Greenfield-Central (0-3) returns to action Monday, April 1, with a home game against Triton Central.
Noblesville (3-1) plays at Fishers on Tuesday, April 9.
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Noblesville 15, Greenfield-Central 0
Noblesville (3-1);515;22; —;15;12;0
Greenfield-Central (0-3);000;00; —;0;1;1
Lulu Van Beek, Emme Yee (4), Claire Cullen (5) and Hailey Schatko, Bella Hughes (4); Addi Heacox, Ailea Dowdy (2), Madysen Herbert (4) and Charlotte Riehle. 2B: N – Mack Harvey, Macie Duvall. G-C – Charlotte Riehle. . HR: N – Gabby Fowler 2 (5). WP: Van Beek (1-0). LP: Heacox (0-2).
