New Palestine High School

The New Palestine softball team won its third straight sectional title Thursday, beating a young and talented Greenwood squad 9-2. The seventh-ranked Dragons (21-7) advance to face No. 8 Edgewood in Tuesday's regional, which will be played at 6 p.m. at NPHS. The Dragons got big performances from throughout the squad. Sadey Hughbanks scattered five hits and two earned runs. She struck out two and the Dragons' defense was airtight, playing errorless ball behind her. Offensively, they delivered 14 hits and had two big innings in which they seized command. The big hit came from Lyndsay Goodin, who launched a three-run homer in the second inning to put the Dragons on top, a lead they'd never relinquish. She also set the table for a three-run fourth inning that gave the Dragons some additional breathing room en route to the program's 17th sectional title. Greenwood scored first - turning a one-out single into a run after a hit batter, double-steal and sacrifice fly. Hughbanks induced a flyout to end the inning. Saydie Miller had a one-out double in the first, but the Dragons were unable to capitalize. They more than did so in the second, scoring five runs. With one out, Claire Fitzgerald and Tessa Mohr delivered back-to-back singles, setting the stage for Goodin, who blasted a pitch over the left-centerfield fence for her third homer of the season, one that gave the Dragons a 3-1 lead. But they weren't finished. With two outs, leadoff hitter Callie Cromwell - who was 3-for-4 and scored three runs - singled, and Payton Dye followed with a double. Miller then hit a sharp groundball that went through the second baseman for an error, allowing both runs to score and extending the lead to 5-1. Greenwood threatened in the fourth. Three straight singles to open the inning plated a run. After a strikeout and a bunt, the Woodmen had two runners in scoring position with two outs. Hughbanks jammed the next hitter, who hit a looping flare in front of home plate. From her catching position, Goodin dove and caught the ball in the air to retire the side and prevent the Woodmen from creeping closer. The Dragons then slammed the door shut in the bottom of the frame. Goodin led off with a single. After Kenna Tweedy sacrificed courtesy runner Morgan Hutchinson into scoring position, Cromwell singled to right to put runners on the corners with one out. Dye hit a sharp single off the shortstop's glove to plate a run. Miller then laced a hard grounder that was mishandled by the third baseman, allowing another run to score. After forcing a pitching change, Amber Hurt ripped a run-scoring single into left to give the Dragons an 8-2 lead after four. Hughbanks continued to mow through the Greenwood lineup, retiring the Woodmen in order in the fifth and pitching around two walks in the sixth. NP added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when Cromwell led off with a double, moved to third on a passed ball and scored on Dye's sacrifice fly. The Dragons then slammed the door in the seventh to touch off the celebration. Hughbanks went the distance, allowing five hits, two earned runs and striking out two. Offensively, Cromwell was 3-for-4 with a double three runs in moving to the leadoff spot. Dye was 2-for-3 with a double, two runs and two RBI. Hurt was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Fitzgerald was 2-for-4 with a run. Goodin was 2-for-3 with a three-run homer. Miller was 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Cara Steele was 1-for-4. Mohr was 1-for-4 with a run. Eight different players had hits in the game.