New Palestine High School

The New Palestine softball team took command in the middle frames Thursday to beat host Shelbyville 11-0 in six innings. The Dragons led 2-0 after one and carried that lead into the fourth, when they added three more runs, then extended the lead to 9-0 after the fifth and added two more runs in the sixth. Sadey Hughbanks and Ava Lapenta combined on a four-hit shutout. Hughbanks allowd four hits and struck out four over five innings to earn the victory. Lapenta surrendered a walk in a hitless sixth. The lower third of the Dragons' lineup produced, as Callie Cromwell, Kenna Tweedy and Lyndsay Goodin combined for seven of the Dragons' 13 hits. Cromwell was 3-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. Tweedy was 2-for-3 with a triple, two runs and three RBI. Goodin was 2-for-3 with two RBI. Morgan Hutchinson (1-2, R), Payton Dye (1-2, HR, 2R, RBI), Saydie Miller (1-3, RB), Cara Steele (1-4, HR, 2R, RBI), Amber Hurt (1-3, 2B, RBI) and Claire Fitzgerald (1-3, R) also had hits. The Dragons jumped ahead early, with Hutchinson singling and Dye walking to start the game. Miller drove in a run with a single and Hurt's double plated Dye, giving NP a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Hughbanks pitched around three baserunners in the first two innings, then retired the Golden Bears in order in the third, setting the table for the Dragons to take command. Fitzgerald, Cromwell, Tweedy and Goodin all opened the fourth with consecutive singles, the latter two driving in runs. Tweedy then stole home to make it a 5-0 game. The Dragons added four more runs with two outs in the fifth. After two reached via error, Cromwell plated a run with a single, Tweedy followed with a two-run triple and then scored on Goodin's base hit. Dye and Steele both hit solo homers in the sixth to trigger the mercy rule. The Class 3A No. 5 Dragons are now 10-4 on the season and 3-1 in Hoosier Heritage Conference play. They are next in action Monday at Franklin.