New Palestine High School

The New Palestine baseball team had an opportunity to play at Victory Field in Indianapolis on a beautiful day, but the Dragons dropped a 9-0 decision to Shelbyville in a Hoosier Heritage Conference match. The Dragons fell to 9-6 overall and 4-4 in HHC play after their second loss to the Golden Bears this season. NP also fell 1-0 on April 7 in the conference opener. Wearing new black uniforms, the Dragons fell behind early as Shelbyville scored an unearned run in the first. The Golden Bears added four runs on four hits in the second inning, and four more runs on five hits in the fourth. Reliever Jordan Barringer came on and pitched 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief to extend the game. The Dragons had six baserunners against Shelbyville starter Aiden Smith, one of the state's top hurlers. Kingston Hedges had two of the Dragons' three hits - a sharp two-out single in the first and a leadoff hit in the fourth. He was doubled off on the next play. The Dragons' best scoring chance came in the third, when Ethan Nunnally drew a leadoff walk, moved into scoring position on a passed ball and to third on a groundout. Gavin Neal followed with a hot smash up the middle, but Smith fielded it, froze the runner and threw to first for the out. A groundout to second ended the threat. The Dragons again had a baserunner in the sixth when Garrett Elkins drew a leadoff walk, but another doubleplay erased the runner. Jacob Morris later drew a two-out walk in the inning, but was stranded. Holden Hughes led off the seventh with a single to right, but Smith struck out the next three batters to end the game. Alex Andrews took the decision for the Dragons. He allowed five hits and four earned runs - five total - in 1 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out three. Ajay Kropp retired the first five batters he faced to limit the scoring in the second and then retire the Golden Bears in order in the third, but Shelbyville had five hits in the fourth, plating four runs. Barringer got the last two outs of the fourth and struck out five, while allowing two hits and two walks while getting eight outs in scoreless relief. The Dragons are back in action at 11 a.m. Saturday morning with a doubleheader against East Central.