New Palestine High School

The New Palestine softball team exploded in the fourth inning Tuesday, beating New Castle 14-1 in five innings. The Dragons scored seven runs in the fourth to double their lead, and scored in every inning of the home contest. Saydie Miller led the Dragons' 13-hit attack, going 4-for-4 with two doubles, two runs and two RBI. Payton Dye was 3-for-3 with a triple, a run and two RBI. Cara Steele was 2-for-3 with a double, two runs and an RBI. Morgan Hutchinson (1-4, R, RBI), Lyndsay Goodin (1-1, R, RBI), Claire Fitzgerald (1-2, 2B, R, RBI) and Ava Lapenta (1-1, R) also had hits. Three Dragons combined on a one-hitter. Lapenta earned the win, allowing one run and striking out seven in two innings. Sadey Hughbanks fanned two in a perfect third inning. Cailyn Hurst struck out four in two perfect innings. After New Castle scored in the top of the first, the Dragons took the lead in the bottom of the inning. Steele and Miller had back-to-back RBI doubles to put NP up 2-1. In the second, Amber Hurt drew a bases-loaded walk to extend the lead. NP added four runs in the third. Miller and Fitzgerald led off with back-to-back doubles to drive in a run. Lapenta singled and Kenna Tweedy walked to load the bases. Aby Thomas and Hutchinson each drove in runs with groundouts. Dye added another run with an RBI single to put the Dragons up 7-1. In the fourth, Steele walked, Miller singled and Tessa Mohr walked to load the bases. Three runs came home on an error. Thomas' groundout drove in another run. Hutchinson singled and scored on Dye's triple. Goodin followed with an RBI hit, and Miller pushed home another run with a single, giving the Dragons a 14-1 lead. The Dragons are now 9-3 on the season and 2-1 in Hoosier Heritage Conference play. They next play Wednesday at Center Grove, beginning seven straight road games.