ANDERSON, Ind. —
Jordan Ball’s swing appears to be back.
And the news just keeps getting better for Anderson Hockett’s offensive potential.
Ball belted a triple and a double deep into the Memorial Field outfield Saturday, and former Highland teammate Michael Bilyeu had two RBI singles as Hockett’s Orange team won a 6-3 decision against Mishawaka.
The wins improved the Orange team’s record to 2-1 in the John Miles Memorial Holiday Tournament. It will play its final game today at 4 p.m. against Muncie.
“Our whole team,” Ball said, “if all of us get on track, we’re going to be really dominant, I think.”
Ball definitely was on track during this beautiful summer afternoon.
After each team scored in the first inning, Ball hit a line drive to the left-center field gap that one-hopped off the fence for a triple. He came around to score moments later on Corbin Fowler’s groundout.
Mishawaka showed Ball the ultimate sign of respect in the third, issuing an intentional walk with one out and runners on second and third. That came after Johnny Weis’ RBI single gave Hockett Orange a 3-1 lead.
Anderson failed to score in that inning, but Ball doubled over the head of Mishawaka centerfielder Cameron Schooley in the seventh and scored a key insurance run on a wild pitch.
Ball’s heroics came after a tough day at the plate in a late Friday night loss against tournament champion South Bend.
“He’s been struggling the past couple of days,” Hockett coach Travis Keesling said. “But that’s baseball. You’re going to have games like that.”
Ball had plenty of support.
Blake Wilson put Hockett Orange on the board in the first inning with an RBI double, and Bilyeu added insurance runs with singles in the fourth and sixth.
Wilson also had a solid day on the mound, allowing just one earned run while scattering eight hits in the complete-game victory. He struck out six and surrendered single runs in the first, third and seventh.
Mishawaka tied the game in the first when Jordan Sailors singled, advanced to second on a single, third on a fielder’s choice and scored on a throwing error during Michael Krump’s stolen base attempt.
Schooley led off the third with a triple and scored Mishawaka’s lone earned run on Sailors’ single. Schooley added a lead-off double in the seventh, stole third and scored on Hockett Orange’s third error.
South Bend defeated Bristol later in the day to wrap up the title in the round-robin event, but both Hockett teams (Orange and Blue) have one game remaining today.
Ball said the tournament has been beneficial in allowing the coaches a chance to evaluate a number of players. Hockett must finalize its postseason roster by the end of the day today, and the sectional begins July 16 in Muncie.
“It’s been a lot more efficient for the team coming together,” Ball said. “The coaches get to see each and every one of us play now. It’s great for us because we all love each other, and we just enjoy playing together whenever we can.”
Notes: Bilyeu has been named to the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association All-Academic Team. ... Daleville’s Zach Tumulty, who is playing for Hockett Blue in this event, has been named to the IHSBCA Class 1A All-State First team. ... Alexandria’s Drew Overman, also playing for Hockett Blue, earned honorable mention in Class 2A. ... Highland’s Chandler Sidwell and Brad Kindred, of Hockett Blue, and the Scots’ Cole Heberling, of Hockett Orange, received honorable mention in Class 4A.
Local Sports
Related Photos
-
Anderson Hockett Orange's Jordan Ball drives the ball during Saturday's win in the John Miles Memorial Holiday Tournament at Memorial Field. David Humphrey / For The Herald Bulletin
-
Anderson Hockett Orange's Blake Abshire slides into home plate to score after a single by Michael Bilyeu during the sixth inning of Saturday's 6-3 win against Mishawaka at Memorial Field. David Humphrey / For The Herald Bulletin
-
Anderson Hockett Orange's Cole Heberling beats the ball to home plate to score in the first inning Saturday at Memorial Field. David Humphrey / For The Herald Bulletin
-
Anderson Hockett Orange shortstop Trevor Kimm makes the throw to first base during Saturday's game. David Humphrey / For The Herald Bulletin
Discussion
Hockett has a Ball
Outfielder drives split squad in Saturday's win
- Local Sports
-
-
Pendleton Heights falls to Roncalli in regional
In the Class 4A Regional Tuesday, Roncalli scored the game-winning run in a 3-0 victory over Pendleton Heights on a wild pitch during an intentional walk to North Carolina-bound star Kendra Lynch in the sixth inning at Legends Field in Pendleton.
-
AU men's basketball coach resigns
Anderson University head men’s basketball coach Tom Slyder recently resigned to accept a position as the men’s basketball coach at North Park University in Chicago, Ill.
North Park is an NCAA Division III school that competes in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW). -
Triumphant Tribe
Seventeen years of frustration and disappointment for the Anderson Indians baseball team ended in a jubilant dog pile atop junior pitcher Curtis Wilson on Monday night at Pendleton Heights’ Field of Dreams.
-
Argylls squeeze into crown
Madison-Grant coach Ben Rodriguez liked his squeeze play so much that he called it again in the pivotal inning of the Class 2A, Sectional 39 championship game at Eastern High School on Monday night in Greentown.
-
Bulldogs’ comeback falls just short
Not even a heroic seventh-inning rally could save the Lapel baseball team in the Class 2A sectional title game at Frankton on Monday afternoon. The Bulldogs scored four runs in the seventh inning but still came up a run short as the Wapahani Raiders won the championship 9-8.
-
Tribe rallies past Pendleton Heights into final
This is the stuff of legend.
The kind of game that defines a rivalry.
The kind of victory that breathes new life into a program.
And the kind of defeat that won’t ever be forgotten. -
Tyler runs away with second Little 500 win
Deuces were wild at the 64th running of the Pay Less Little 500 as Brian Tyler recorded his second win and brought team owner Larry Contos win No. 2 at Anderson Speedway.
-
Rick Teverbaugh: Spectacle lacking on local TV
The Greatest Spectacle in Racing, on television, is a myth in its own backyard.
-
Tipton bedevils Madison-Grant
The Madison-Grant softball team dug a deep hole on Friday night in the championship game of the Class 2A, Sectional 39 at Eastern High School in Greentown. Trailing 5-0 after four innings, the Argylls scratched their way back into the game, but were on the short end of a 5-4 decision against the Tipton Blue Devils.
-
Nominate an athlete for Madison County Area's 100 Greatest Athletes book
Nominate an athlete to be included in The Herald Bulletin's coffee table book, "The Madison County Area's 100 Greatest Athletes."
- More Local Sports Headlines
-
