New Palestine High School

Sadey Hughbanks pitched a one-hit shutout and was backed up by a four-run seventh-inning explosion Tuesday, leading the Class 3A No. 7 New Palestine softball team to a 6-0 victory over No. 5 Roncalli in the semifinal of the Indian Creek sectional. The Dragons (20-7) advance to face Greenwood (20-6) in Thursday's 6 p.m. championship game at Indian Creek. Hughbanks allowed one hit - a soft liner to lead off the fifth - and she would later erase that runner with a solid play to throw behind a runner and catch her rounding third. She walked six and struck out six. The Dragons had traffic in the first two innings - with three baserunners, all reaching with two outs. They broke through in the third when Morgan Hutchinson beat out a bunt single to lead off the inning. Payton Dye then drew a four-pitch walk. Hutchinson moved to third by tagging and advancing on Saydie Miller's flyout to deep right, putting herself in position to score on Cara Steele's groundout. Dye then came home on Claire Fitzgerald's single up the middle. The Dragons were unable to add on for the next three innings, despite a leadoff double by Amber Hurt in the fourth and Hurt also drawing a two-out walk in the sixth. Meanwhile, Roncalli threatened at times, but was unable to deliver a hit. The Royals stranded a runner in scoring position in the second, stranded two runners on in the third and sixth. In the fifth, after a leadoff hit, a soft blooper with two outs deflected off second baseman Fitzgerald's glove right to Hughbanks behind the circle. She fired to third to catch a runner who had overrun the bag and end the inning. The Dragons broke through in the seventh to add four big insurance runs. Tessa Mohr led the inning off with a pinch-hit solo homer on the first pitch. With one out, Dye came up and did it again, blasting a 3-2 pitch well over the left-centerfield fence. The Dragons weren't done. Miller drew a four-pitch walk, which chased Roncalli starter Kayla Brewer. Steele followed with a run-scoring double to the right-centerfield fence. Pinch-runner Addy Maddox moved to third on a wild pitch. Fitzgerald then hit a grounder to the left side. Maddox broke for home and scored on a close play to make it 6-0. Hughbanks retired the side in order - with the help of two solid defensive plays by Dye at third base - to send the Dragons into the title game. The Dragons spread their hitting out in their nine-hit attack. Hurt was 2-for-3 with a double. Mohr homered on the only pitch she saw. Hutchinson was 1-for-4 with a run. Dye was 1-for-3 with a walk, a homer and two runs. Miller was 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Steele was 1-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Fitzgerald was 1-for-4 with two RBI. Callie Cromwell was 1-for-4. The Dragons will be seeking their third straight sectional title Thursday. It would be the 17th in program history. The victory also clinched the Dragons' 23rd consecutive 20-win season.