Fishers High School

Fishers JV2 Silver Tigers (8-9-1) and Franklin Central Flashes battled through eight competitive innings Thursday night, with neither side able to pull away in a hard-fought 7-7 tie. The game featured momentum swings, aggressive baserunning, late-inning drama, and clutch performances from both teams. Fishers came out aggressive from the very first inning. After Landon Sanders was retired on strikes, Isaac Repp reached on an error and Nate Birsa followed with a sharp single to center. Alex Stiefel reached on a dropped third strike to keep the inning alive, and Dawson Gustin delivered the big hit of the frame with a two-run single to center field that plated both Stiefel and Birsa for an early 2-0 lead. Franklin Central answered right back in the bottom of the first. They reached on an error to begin the inning, and after several walks loaded the bases, Franklin Central lined an RBI single to left to cut the lead to 2-1. Sanders worked out of further trouble by inducing a flyout to strand runners and preserve the lead. The Tigers added another run in the second inning thanks to their aggressive play on the bases. Mason Walker drew a walk and immediately wreaked havoc, stealing both second and third base. Repp later grounded into a fielder’s choice that brought Walker home, extending the advantage to 3-1. Franklin Central threatened in the second after a Flashes batter was hit by a pitch, but Sanders and the Tiger defense escaped the inning without allowing a run. Fishers manufactured another run in the third inning in dramatic fashion. Birsa walked and advanced all the way to third before the inning ended on a well-executed leave early by Stone allowing enough time in the pickle to score Birsa before Stone was tagged out to push the lead to 4-1. The Flashes responded with a huge bottom of the third inning to tie the game. Three walks loaded the bases before they drove in a run with a groundout. Moments later, a Tiger error allowed two more runs to score, evening the game at 4-4. Sanders settled down afterward and recorded a strikeout looking to limit the damage. Both teams traded missed opportunities over the next two innings. Franklin Central put runners aboard in the fourth, but Sanders escaped a bases-loaded jam with a key strikeout and a flyout to left field. In the bottom of the fifth, the Flashes finally broke through to take the lead. After a pair of walks and a hit batter loaded the bases, Franklin Central lined a two-run single into left field to put the Flashes ahead 6-4. Ryan Storm entered in relief and quickly stopped the rally with a flyout to center field. Fishers continued battling and nearly answered immediately in the sixth. Kellen Battershield reached on an error, but Franklin Central escaped the inning after catching a runner stealing to maintain the two-run lead. Storm delivered a strong response on the mound in the bottom of the sixth, striking out two and stranding multiple runners to keep the Tigers within striking distance heading into the final inning. The Tigers finally broke through again in the seventh with one of their best rallies of the night. Walker started the inning with a hard single before Sanders reached on an error. Repp battled for a crucial walk that forced home a run, cutting the deficit to 6-5. Birsa then laid down a bunt single to load the bases, and Gustin followed with another clutch RBI bunt single that tied the game at 6-6. Fishers looked poised to take the lead later in the inning, but Franklin Central cut down a runner at the plate and later caught Birsa attempting to steal home after a missed squeeze bunt, ending the threat and keeping the game tied. The Tigers regained the lead in the top of the eighth inning. Zach Dowd was hit by a pitch and later advanced into scoring position before Walker ripped a line-drive triple to center field, scoring the go-ahead run and giving Fishers a 7-6 edge. Walker’s speed and baserunning were a major factor all game, as he finished with five stolen bases. Franklin Central refused to go away in the bottom half of the inning. They reached on an error and eventually moved into scoring position before lining a single down the right field line, bringing home the tying run to even the score at 7-7. Gustin led the Tigers offensively with two hits and three RBIs, including the game-tying bunt single in the seventh inning. Birsa, Walker, and Gustin each collected two hits, while Walker created chaos on the bases all night with five stolen bases and the go-ahead triple in the eighth. The Tigers were relentless on the basepaths throughout the game, stealing eight bases and constantly pressuring Franklin Central’s defense. Storm provided valuable relief innings late, keeping Fishers within striking distance and giving the offense a chance to rally. Despite multiple lead changes and extra-inning drama, neither side could deliver the final blow as Fishers JV2 Silver Tigers and Franklin Central Flashes finished in a 7-7 tie after an entertaining back-and-forth battle.