by

Richie Hall 

Sports Editor

Hamilton County Reporter

KOKOMO – Even after trailing the entire game, the Fishers baseball team never stopped believing it could win.

The Tigers were stuck behind Munster for almost six innings Saturday at the
Class 4A Kokomo semi-state at Kokomo Municipal Stadium. But Fishers kept battling, almost as if the team was living up to its nickname – just waiting for the right
time to pounce.

The Tigers did that in the bottom of the sixth inning, nailing back-to-back RBI singles to take the lead. Fishers then took care of the Mustangs three up, three down in the top of the seventh, and the Tigers were celebrating a 3-2 semi-state championship win, sending them back to the state finals.

Fishers will play Jasper at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 22 at Victory Field in the 4A state championship game. It will be the second time the Tigers play in the state finals. The first time was in 2018, when Fishers beat Cathedral for the big trophy.

“These guys have taught me that they’re just never out of it,” said Fishers coach Matt Cherry. “We had chances early. We didn’t get a runner in with a guy on third and less than two outs. It was getting a little tight, but these guys, all year long, have just never quit. They just keep doing it. They taught me that just to keep fighting no matter what.”

“We never stopped believing,” said junior Zach Cox, who hit the game-winning RBI. He was at Victory Field in 2018 as an eighth-grader, watching the Tigers win state. Now he will get to be on the field.

“That’s one thing we always rely on is believing,” said Cox. “We always have each other’s backs and we had each other’s backs and we got the job done.”

Munster scored both of its runs in the top of the first inning. Denham Kozy batted in the first run, with a sacrifice fly to score Ben Greiner. Later, Bryce Schaum’s base hit sent Brady Ginaven home.

The Tigers cut into the Mustangs’ lead in the second inning. Zach Cox singled
on to base, moved to second on Gavin Clayton’s single, then scored when Carson Dunn reached on error. The score was now 2-1, and it would stay there for a while.

Fishers changed that in the sixth inning. Caulin Brown got on base with a hit, then Matt Bryant came in to run for him. Bryant stole second base, and that him in scoring position.

Jack Braun came up with one out and hit a single to send Bryant home. Braun moved over to second on a throw, and now he was in scoring position. That to send Braun home.

“We finally got a leadoff guy on,” said Cherry. “We hadn’t got a leadoff guy on all game. He hit that single to right to get a leadoff guy on. Huge credit to Matt Bryant, stealing second to get in scoring position. And then Jack Braun just battled.”

Braun had the count at 2-2, also fouling off an extra strike before getting his single, which Cherry called a huge “senior moment.” Cox’s big hit was a good one, too; it was his second of the game.

“He didn’t hit in the sectional, and we put him back in the lineup in the regional and he gets the game-winning RBI up the middle,” said Cherry.

Fishers had the lead, and was now three outs away for a return to state. The Tigers made those three outs drama-free, as Munster flew out to the outfield for the first two outs, then Tate Warner took care of business with a strikeout to end the game.

“Tate was awesome,” said Cherry. “He’s a competitor, man. He’s a warrior.”

After a rough start, Warner pitched outstanding. While he gave up three hits in the first inning, Warner only allowed one hit for the remainder of the game. He finished with five strikeouts and only one walk.

“We adjusted our game plan a little bit,” said Cherry. “We went more offspeed to start him out and just kind of pitching backwards. His changeup was effective early in the count and then his slider was working.”

Warner was also backed up by the Tigers’ solid defense. A prime example of
that was third baseman Gavin Clayton, who fielded six balls for groundouts. In
fact, at one point he made three consecutive outs, getting the third one in the fifth
inning and the first two in the sixth.

“I’m just always ready,” said Clayton. He paid attention to the Mustangs batters’
tendencies during the game. “The leadoff batter hit it to me first, so I was always ready when he came up to bat,” said Clayton. “And then later in the game, I think the third batter, he hit a rocket to me and then later in the game, he hit another one to me. So I was ready
for that one.”

“He started the year on JV and he was on our varsity roster, but he’s playing JV
and dressing with us,” said Cherry. “We finally got to the point about mid-April,
end of April that we just inserted him at third because he’s got really good hands
defensively. He’s played a great third base. He’s had some big hits for us this
tournament.”

The Tigers are 23-12 for the season.

(Here are more photos of the semi-state game at Kokomo, from the Hamilton County Reporter)

Continue reading Comeback Tigers are state bound again – Consecutive sixth-inning RBI singles send Fishers past Munster →

A new fire station on the northeast side of Fishers is one step closer to happening following action Wednesday night by the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board.  The school district is agreeing to transfer 3 acres of land to the city at 136th Street and Prairie Baptist Road for the fire facility.

In exchange, The City of Fishers agrees to partner with HSE Schools to provide “experiential” learning programs for elementary students at city facilities, such as the AgriPark, Ritchey Woods and the new Hub & Spoke complex.  The city agrees to fund 2 teaching positions for these programs, 100% in the first year and 50% the second year, while the school corporation agrees to fund the third year of the program.

A resident of the nearby Britton Falls neighborhood spoke in favor of the proposal, because Britton Falls has been urging the city to build a fire station in that area for some time.

The school board voted unanimously to approve the memorandum of understanding.

Attorney David Day, representing the school district in the talks with the city, says Fishers officials have told him construction on the fire station could begin this fall.

The Fishers Board of Public Works and Safety is scheduled to vote on a design and construction management agreement Tuesday afternoon with Delv Design Studio and BW Construction for the fire station project.

The road work listing in and around Fishers as of June 11th is a long one.  116th Street remains closed at the Nickel Plate Trail downtown through the end of July.  State Road 37 construction continues, plus there are many street resurfacing job happening around Fishers.

Here is the listing, as provided by the City of Fishers”

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STATE ROAD 37 AND 146TH STREET
All left-turn lanes are currently restricted on SR 37 and on 146th Street with traffic moved to the interior lanes. Thru traffic and right turns on SR 37 and 146th Street will remain open. Drivers are encouraged to seek alternate routes for all left turn access. View an alternate route map here. 

Northbound and Southbound SR 37 is currently restricted to one lane in each direction, North of 146th Street. This restriction will be in place for approximately 2-3 weeks, as work progresses at this interchange.

There is currently a single lane closure for Northbound Herriman Blvd. between 146th Street and the Circle K/Shell gas station driveway and is anticipated to reopen in June.

STATE ROAD 37 AND 131ST / 135TH STREETS
The westside of 131st Street at SR 37 is currently closed as work progresses on the interchange. SR 37 will remain open both north and southbound. SR 37 southbound left and right turns onto 131st Street will be restricted. Westbound left turns onto SR 37 will also be restricted on 131st Street. View the detour map here.

The Northbound SR 37 right turn lane onto 135th Street is currently closed from 131st Street to approximately halfway to 135th Street for Phase 1 construction. This portion of the dedicated turn lane will not reopen to regular capacity until the interchange is complete.

Please drive with caution through this area. To learn more about the State Road 37 Improvement Project and sign up to receive text updates, visit 37Thrives.com.

The City of Fishers started construction on the Nickel Plate Trail pedestrian tunnel beneath 116th Street on Tuesday, June 1. The closure is anticipated to last 60 days. During the construction, 116th Street will be closed from east of Municipal Drive to west of Maple Street. All local business and public parking access will remain open.

106th Street will serve as the detour route, with the detour beginning at Hague Road for eastbound thru traffic and Lantern Road for the westbound thru traffic.

Portions of the Nickel Plate Trail are now open, including the paved portion from 131st Street to North Street, and from South Street to 106th Street. The 116^th Street tunnel will complete the trail connection through downtown Fishers, joining South Street and North Street, and establishing a full connection from 131^st Street to 106^th Street. While the tunnel is under construction, a pedestrian detour route will provide access through downtown between the north and south sections of the trail. View the pedestrian detour map here.

To learn more about the project, view construction images and project renderings, and find detour maps, visit https://www.playfishers.com/284/Nickel-Plate-Trail

On Wednesday, June 16 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., DPW will be cutting back vegetation overgrowing paved portions of the Nickel Plate Trail. For safety reasons, it is necessary to close segments of the trail in 1-hour increments while work is completed. Closures will include: 106th Street to Fishers Pointe Blvd., Fishers Pointe Blvd. to South Street, Lantern Road to 126th Street and 126th Street to 131st Street.

Beginning on Monday, June 14 at 6 a.m., Eastbound 116th Street between Cumberland Road and Hoosier Road will be closed as DPW performs joint repairs and is anticipated to reopen on Thursday, June 17 by 6 a.m. The official detour route will direct drivers to use Cumberland Road to 126th Street to Hoosier Road to 116th Street. View the detour map here.

Beginning on Friday, June 18 at 6 a.m., Westbound 116th Street between Hoosier Road and Cumberland Road will be closed as DPW performs joint repairs and is anticipated to reopen on Saturday, June 19 by 6 a.m. The official detour route will direct drivers to sue Hoosier Road to 126th Street to Cumberland Road to 116th Street. View the detour map here.

Beginning on/after Wednesday, June 16, Promise Road will be closed just North of the entrance to Sedona (Chandler Way) between 136th Street and 141st Street for utility repair work and is anticipated to reopen on Friday, June 18. Access to homes and businesses will be maintained. Work is weather permitting. View the detour map here.

Indianapolis DPW currently has Admirals Pointe Drive closed through midsummer 2021 to replace the timber bridge over Geist and the north fork of Dry Branch. The detour will consist of Old Stone Dr. East to Carroll Rd. / 700 W., South to E. 79th St., West to Oaklandon Rd.

ADA ramp and curb reconstruction has started as part of the 2021 Resurfacing Project. After ADA ramp and curb reconstruction is completed, those areas will be restored with topsoil andRoad seed. It is the responsibility of the homeowner to water the seed for the seed to germinate. Prior to road resurfacing, residents will be notified via street signage for street parking restrictions.

When Dr. Allen Bourff took his turn on the school board agenda Wednesday night, it started out as a normal update about Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools.  He thanked everyone involved in the “nearly flawless” high school graduation ceremonies held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum.  He explained how the district is trying to “celebrate” the many successes and strides toward life goals among the student population.

But this was not a normal board meeting for Dr. Bourff.  There will be one more board session later in June, but he will not attend.  Allen Bourff is retiring at the end of this month.  June 9th was Allen Bourff’s final HSE School Board meeting.

He counted about 720 school board meetings during his time as a school administrator.  He has signed about 18,000 graduation certificates in his career.  He has worked with 44 board members.

“Thank you to the parents who have entrusted their kids to the school districts where I have been,” Bourff said.  He also complimented the many parents that  spoke at the Wednesday board meeting, many critical of board policies.  “I know you are here for your children…I appreciate that.”

In a previous podcast interview with LarryInFishers, Dr. Bourff said he and his wife plan to remain Fishers residents once his retirement is official in July.

A new York City setting for a film musical is nothing new.  But “In The Heights” takes cinematic dancing, singing and storytelling to a new level.

Here is my review.

The construction of Deer Creek Elementary School is moving along, but there are some issues that Harry Delks, Facilities Director for Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools, explained to the school board Wednesday night.

This school building will be within the city boundaries of Noblesville.  Other HSE Schools, other than Durbin Elementary (which Deer Creek is replacing) are located in the city of Fishers.

According to Delks, Noblesville would not issue the required permits to begin construction on Deer Creek Elementary unless HSE Schools agreed to foot the bill for Duke Entergy power line & pole relocations.  The City of Noblesville plans to expand Boden Road in the future and wants the poles & lines relocated in anticipation of that project.

Delks says he is hoping the cost of the relocation will be in the range of $400,000 to $500,000.  If an unforeseen emergency were to happen, such as a tornado outbreak where Duke would need to send their own crews to respond, the project would be outsourced and could cost as much as $1 million.

HSE Schools agreed to pay for the Duke relocations because Noblesville would not approve the necessary permits without that assurance.  “We really had no choice,” Delks told the school board.

Mike Holtkamp of the Hagerman Group told the board the Deer Creek building project is currently on budget.  However, the expense of moving the Duke poles & lines was not included in the original budget.

“There has been work from the team to make sure that this comes in under budget,” said HSE Schools Superintendent Allen Bourff. “In order to do so, we’ve had to adjust our design plans…it’s still going to be a beautiful building.”

Holtkamp told board members the school district is fortunate that Deer Creek’s construction began early enough that it has not been plagued by construction material price hikes and shortages other projects are experiencing.

Thursday was an early morning rise for a mostly retired guy (me).  But when the mayor offers to show you the construction of the Nickel Plate Trail tunnel underneath 116th Street, how could I say no?  I’ll have more on that excursion in a future story.

Once returned from the hard-hat tour, I joined Mayor Scott Fadness and Stephanie Perry of the Fishers communications department to mainly talk about the summer in Fishers.  The warm weather months are normally busy in our fair city, but there is something special about 2021.

We are emerging from the worst pandemic in nearly anyone’s memory.  We were locked down for months.  The summer of 2020 saw one event after another either canceled or greatly modified.

The city is clearly sounding the message that Fishers is once again open for business.  There are ways to enjoy downtown Fishers this summer, even if you need to adjust your route a bit due to 116th Street being closed at the Nickel Plate Trail.

There was plenty to discuss when I sat down with Mayor Fadness and Stephanie for this podcast.

The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools will take comments online, then post an in-person instruction plan, on the coming fall semester beginning in August.  School officials say once the comments and other data are in, the plan will be posted online June 24.  This is a federal requirement and all must be done within a 30-day period in order for HSE Schools to be eligible for federal money totaling just under $3 million.

According to a document on the Wednesday night’s school board agenda, “HSE Schools must include in its plan specific information that addresses how it will maintain student and staff health and safety and how it will ensure continuity of services for academic and social-emotional needs, as well as how it meets CDC guidance, to the extent practicable.”

Several speakers addressed the board on this agenda item Wednesday, strongly urging the board to have student mask-wearing optional in the fall semester.  Some speakers criticized the board for Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and for the diversity and inclusion programs.

Citizens are allowed to speak for up to two minutes on any item listed on the board’s agenda for that meeting.

A Cicero man died Saturday in a 9:12pm crash involving a motorcycle and SUV, at the Noblesville intersection of Boden Road and 146th Street, near the area of Hamilton Town Center.

According to my news gathering partner, the Hamilton County Reporter, a 2021 Chevrolet Equinox was facing northbound on Boden Road in the left turn lane and was preparing to turn left (west) onto 146th Street just prior to the crash. Witnesses told police the driver of the Chevrolet turned left into the path of a southbound 2009 Harley Davidson motorcycle traveling through the intersection. The driver and passenger of the motorcycle were thrown from the vehicle as a result of the crash.

The driver of the motorcycle was identified as Matthew D. Cooper, 37, Cicero. Cooper was transported by ground ambulance to I.U. Health Saxony Hospital in Fishers. He died a short time later.

The passenger on the Harley Davidson was identified as Mya D. Cooper, 29, Cicero. Cooper sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported by ground ambulance to Ascension St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis and was reported to be in stable condition.

The driver of the Chevrolet Equinox was identified as Deborah A. Dunn, 65, Noblesville. Dunn did not suffer any injuries in the crash.

The intersection of Boden Road and 146th Street was closed until approximately 12:41 a.m. Sunday as investigators from the Noblesville Police Department Accident Reconstruction Unit collected information for the crash investigation.

At this time, it does not appear that alcohol, drugs, or weather contributed to the cause of the crash.

I still remember moving to the then Town of Fishers in May of 1991.  The 1990 census had pegged the town’s population at just over 7,500.  The town hall was in a building now housing an art gallery on 116th Street, just across the street from where the Depot building is now located.

It was not long after my move to Fishers when the new town hall opened for business.  The town staff was excited to have much more room for a growing community.

In a recent podcast interview with Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness, he says the town never expected the structure to be the center of municipal government for a long period of time.  The town council at that time constructed the building not with steel, but with a wooden frame.

“It’s built like…a large house,” the mayor said. “That’s a lot of wear and tear on a commercial building.”

The town and city tried to deal with a building that has been sinking.  The mayor said city hall is “falling apart.”

Fadness made it clear to the city council and to me in the podcast that building a new city hall was never a priority for him as mayor, but “there does come a point when you’re putting money into a building that really is not a sound return on investment.  I think we’ve reached that point on a variety of levels here at city hall.”

So, it would appear that the city of Fishers will be conducting a study on how to build and finance a new city hall.

“I think there is a good chance this (city hall) building will go away in the foreseeable future and we will build something different here,” Fadness said in the podcast interview. “I don’t think you are going to see any Taj Mahal because, frankly, our footprint hasn’t grown that significantly.”

This is not a matter of a need for more space, Fadness says, just a need to stop the financial bleeding from the constant requirement to handle the structural issues with the current hall.

In Deputy Mayor Elliott Hultgren’s presentation to the city council’s recent work session, estimates on the cost of a new city hall range from $18 million to $21 million.

The mayor says he is working on a financial strategy to build a new Fishers City Hall without burdening the city’s taxpayers.  At the same time, Fadness is working an a financial plan to create a city community center as well.  One proposal would have the new City Hall contain a performing arts component within the plan.

The mayor expects a busy summer as he works with city staff and consultants on how a new city hall would be built and financed.