HCC End of Week Update (5/18/2026)
HCC End of Week Update
HSE vs. Westfield
This was the premier matchup in the conference last week, and it delivered, setting the stage for an exciting finish to the regular season.
Game one was everything we would expect from a matchup with these implications.
HSE struck first in the bottom of the first when Parker O’Steen doubled with two outs and was driven home by a Cy Cole single to give the Royals an early 1-0 lead.
Westfield answered immediately with its own two-out rally. After retiring the first two hitters of the inning, HSE issued a walk to Kassen Jessup and surrendered a single to Cade Defendis before Maddox Novotney tied the game with an RBI single. The Rocks were not finished, however, as Andrew Noble followed with a two-run double to put Westfield ahead 3-1.
The Royals answered in the bottom of the fifth. After Bixler reached on a hit-by-pitch earlier in the inning, O’Steen doubled again to drive him home. O’Steen scored on the same play after a throwing error as he attempted to advance to third, tying the game at 3.
Southeastern took the lead in the sixth.
Chase Bradle reached on an error, and pinch runner Karson Seitz entered the game. After Spencer Mohr recorded the second out of the inning via strikeout, Seitz stole second on a 1-1 pitch to move into scoring position. Nick Bach then lined a 2-2 pitch into center field to score Seitz and give HSE a 4-3 lead heading into the seventh.
Westfield wasted no time applying pressure in the final inning, needing just two pitches to place runners at second and third. Andrew Noble led off the inning with an infield single before Beck Jordan doubled to right-center.
Aiden Grabowski tied the game with a sacrifice fly, scoring Noble. The Rocks then took the lead when Nick Fero doubled to deep left, bringing home Jordan.
HSE mounted one final threat in the bottom of the seventh. O’Steen collected his third hit of the game and was replaced by pinch runner Carter Reed. Reed advanced to second when Cy Cole was hit by a pitch. Alex Shepherd then reached on a slow ground ball and throwing error, but Reed was thrown out at the plate attempting to score after the ball briefly got away from the first baseman. Chase Bradle later flew out to end the game as Westfield escaped with a 5-4 victory.
Game two was less dramatic but equally important for the conference race. Westfield completed the sweep with a 12-5 victory, collecting 17 hits while scoring all 12 runs in the first four innings. Westfield was also aided by five HSE errors.
And Then There Were Three…and HSE
Noblesville (9-3) – Noblesville entered the week tied with HSE atop the conference standings, but exits with a one-game lead and one series remaining. A split with Zionsville guarantees at least a share of the HCC championship, while a sweep secures the outright title.
Westfield (8-4) – Westfield kept its title hopes alive by sweeping HSE, but the Rocks now need help from Zionsville. If Westfield sweeps Avon, pressure shifts squarely to the Millers. A Zionsville sweep would open the door for the Rocks to claim at least a share of the conference crown.
Fishers (8-4) – Early in the season we said avoiding sweeps while earning your own was the path to the title. That may prove true for the defending champions. Fishers remains the only HCC team to avoid being swept this season, and that consistency has them just one game back entering the final week. Like Westfield, the Tigers need a sweep and help from Zionsville.
Hamilton Southeastern is not eliminated from a share of the conference title, but it requires them to sweep Franklin Central, Zionsville to sweep Noblesville, and BOTH Westfield and Fishers to lose at least one game each.
Remaining Series
· Noblesville vs Zionsville
· Westfield vs Avon
· Fishers vs Brownsburg
· HSE vs Franklin Central
One week remains. Four teams still have a path, but only one controls its own destiny. The HCC title race heads into the final series exactly where it belongs — unresolved.