WHITING | Before Cody Hayes even got a chance to step on the mound for Hebron, the Hawks posted what may have been their best overall offensive inning all season.
Hayes certainly reaped the benefits of it, hurling a no-hitter as Hebron defeated Bishop Noll 10-0 in six innings in the Class 2A Whiting Regional semifinals.
The Hawks (19-8) put up seven runs in the first inning, which included a bases-clearing triple from Kyle Hernandez to put the game out of reach for the Warriors before they even got a chance to bat. Hebron sent 12 batters to the plate in that inning.
“We started off hitting really good, and I knew I just had to pitch my game and we would win it,” said Hayes, who walked three and hit two batters. “I just got in a groove early and I kept it up the whole game.”
Hebron coach John Steinhilber was pleased with the way Hayes stayed in his groove.
“Cody’s been on; this is his second (no-hitter) of the year,” Steinhilber said. “He did a good job attacking them and tried to attack them inside. For the most part, I thought he did a pretty good job.”
The Hawks would add two runs in the fifth inning as Brad Stooksbury’s RBI-double plated Brice Hanaway. Mike Mikulich then grounded out to score Stooksbury.
Hebron plated its 10th run when Kyle Joyce’s RBI-single scored Hayes on a very aggressive base-running call.
After Noll junior pitcher Chad Mateja replaced starter Julian Guerrerno in the first inning and kept the Hawks at bay with his arm.
However, it was too little, too late for the Warriors (22-7), and coach Paul Wirtz knew it.
“Things snowballed quickly and we were behind hitters,” he said. “We got behind 2-0 to a No. 4 hitter (Hernandez) with the bases loaded and no place to put him and he sends out a pitch. From that point on, we were in trouble.”
In the first game of the afternoon, Fort Wayne Bishop Luers defeated Central Noble 4-3.
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