NOBLESVILLE — After a three-up, three-down inning to start Monday’s Class 4A Sectional 8 championship game against Fishers, Zionsville pitcher Davis Moore’s pinpoint control suddenly escaped him.
He allowed a leadoff single to David Pina, walked a batter and hit the next two, surrendering one run to the Tigers. Needing to settle down his starter, Zionsville coach Jered Moore walked to the mound to talk to his son.
The pep talk didn’t help, as Henry Cherry ambushed Moore’s first-pitch fastball, driving the ball to the left field fence for two more runs, tying the game at three runs each.
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After Cherry’s single, Moore faced just two batters over the minimum, keeping the Eagles in the game and setting up Ayden Keith to record the final four outs, sending Zionsville to a 4-3 victory.
Zionsville (16-14) advances to face Harrison (19-10) in the Class 4A regional championship game on Saturday.
“I couldn’t just throw a strike and let them hit it,” Moore said of his shaky second inning. “I’m just glad I have that defense behind me, so when I do throw a strike, I know they’re going to make a play.”
Moore earned the win allowing three runs on two hits and two walks, striking out four over 5⅔ innings. Keith recorded the save, throwing 1⅓ hitless innings, striking out two.
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“He didn’t have his best stuff,” Jered Moore said of Davis. “To go out and compete like he did, I was proud, but I was pretty frustrated at times.”
Miscues hurt Fishers (16-14) in the first. Pitcher Owen Lukac slipped fielding a Tyler Hughes bunt, allowing Hughes to reach base. After a Reid Zittel RBI single, Lukac’s pick-off attempt at third base sailed into the outfield allowing Hughes to score from third and Zittel to score from second.
Tigers’ reliever Austin Conley entered in the second inning and quieted the Eagles offense. Conley struck out seven over five scoreless innings, scattering three hits. With two outs in the seventh, Carter Strole drew a walk, and Pina reached on a hit-by-pitch before Keith struck out Isaac Fernandez looking to end the game.
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“They didn’t quit,” Fishers coach Matthew Cherry said. “We made some adjustments midseason and they really bought into it. We made some adjustments to our offensive philosophies; they bought in and fought to the end.”
The sectional title is the high point of an up-and-down season for the Eagles. Zionsville started the season 7-1 before dropping six of its next seven games. The Eagles won their three sectional games by a combined five runs, showing their ability to perform in the clutch.
Camden Moore’s second-inning RBI single put the Eagles up for good. Zittel and Liam Salapka had two hits each.
Davis Moore said despite the team’s shaky regular season, they’re coming together as a team at the right time.
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“This team is the best team I’ve ever played with,” the younger Moore said. “It is so much fun. We care genuinely. … We didn’t have the best start to the season, but it only matters when you get hot, and we’re hot right now. We’re playing our hearts out and that’s what matters.”
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IHSAA baseball: Zionsville beats Fishers for Class 4A Sectional 8 title
