Fishers High School

Fishers JV2 Silver Tigers (5-9) used a huge early offensive performance and aggressive base running to power past Avon Orioles 10-5 on Thursday night. The Tigers struck early, exploded for six runs in the second inning, and then weathered a late Avon rally to secure the win. Fishers wasted no time putting pressure on Avon in the top of the first. Chase Stone was hit by a pitch to open the game, and Dawson Gustin followed with a walk before stealing second base. Avon’s defense cracked under the early pressure, as an error allowed Stone to score and Gustin to move all the way to third. Max Bishton then delivered a sacrifice fly to center field to bring home Gustin and give the Tigers a quick 2-0 advantage. The Tigers carried that momentum into the second inning and completely took control of the game. After Eli Engebretson singled and Brayden McNall reached on an error, Stone dropped down a bunt single to load the bases. Avon managed one out, but Fishers kept attacking. Isaac Repp ripped a single that plated two runs to make it 4-0. Moments later, Alex Stiefel delivered the biggest hit of the night, driving a triple into left field that cleared the bases and pushed the lead to 7-0. Nate Birsa followed with an RBI single to cap the six-run inning and extend the lead to 8-0. Avon answered in the bottom half of the inning after a pair of singles and a Tiger error helped set up a run-scoring fielder’s choice. Landon Sanders limited the damage, getting a fly out and groundout to leave the bases loaded with the Tigers still comfortably ahead 8-1. Fishers went quietly in the third, but Avon tried to chip away in the bottom of the inning. Another Tiger error allowed a runner aboard before Avon doubled to center to score a run and trim the lead to 8-2. Avon threatened for more, but the Tigers turned a momentum-shifting double play from a bullet throw out to third by Repp in right field. The defensive sequence ended the inning and kept Fishers firmly in control. The fourth inning moved quickly as both teams settled in defensively. Sanders worked around a single in the bottom half, and Fishers continued to play aggressively on the bases, with Bishton stealing second after drawing a walk. The Tigers added another insurance run in the fifth. Birsa lined a double to right field and later scored on an Engebretson groundout to extend the lead to 9-2. Fishers had a chance for more after loading runners aboard, but Avon escaped with a strikeout to end the inning. Avon mounted its biggest rally in the sixth inning. Consecutive singles and another Tiger error helped load the bases before Avon scored 2 more to cut the deficit to 9-4. The Orioles continued putting pressure on Fishers with runners moving all over the bases, but Sanders battled through traffic to stop the rally. Fishers answered immediately in the top of the seventh. Mason Walker reached on an error, stole second, then swiped third before scoring on a passed ball to push the lead back to six runs at 10-4. Avon scratched across one final run in the bottom half, but Ryan Storm shut the door from there to finish off the 10-5 victory. Fishers’ offense was fueled by timely hitting throughout the lineup. Stiefel drove in three runs and finished 2-for-3, while Birsa led the Tigers with three hits and added an RBI. Repp contributed two RBIs during the explosive second inning, and the Tigers constantly pressured Avon with their speed, swiping six bases in the game. Walker and Birsa each stole multiple bases as Fishers turned offense into extra opportunities all night long. On the mound, Sanders earned the win after working 6⅓ innings while allowing just one earned run despite Avon collecting nine hits. Storm came on in relief and delivered key outs late to help preserve the win. Defensively, Fishers had some shaky moments with several errors extending innings, but the Tigers also came through with key defensive plays when they mattered most, including the critical double play in the third inning that helped halt Avon’s momentum before the game tightened late.