New Palestine High School

A late power surge Monday led the New Palestine softball team to a 6-1 victory over visiting Westfield. Paige Ernstes broke the game open in the fifth inning with a two-run homer, while Allie Blum hit a pair of RBI doubles to lead the Dragons' offense. The Dragons improved to 3-0 with the victory. The Dragons surrendered a run in the top of the first, and left two runners on base in each the first and third innings, but broke through in the fourth. Maddie Engle singled and scored on an error to tie the game. In the fifth, the Dragons took the lead when Blum drilled a double to left, plating Jersi Gross, who led off with. walk. Ernstes hammered the next pitch over the leftfield fence for a two-run homer to give the Dragons a 4-1 lead. In the sixth, Gross again led off with a walk and scored on Blum's double to left. Katie Hirschy followed with an RBI single. Courtney Study earned the win in the circle, allowing three hits and one earned run in four innings. Sadey Hughbanks tallied a three-inning save, fanning three and allowing no hits. Blum was 2-for-4 with two runs, two doubles and two RBI. Sydney Oliver also hit a double. Engle, Reese Rosenbaum, Gross and Hirschy also had hits, in addition to Ernstes' homer. Gross reached in all four plate appearances, as she walked three times and scored twice. The Dragons open HHC play Tuesday at Yorktown.