New Palestine High School

The New Palestine softball team honored its 2004 state championship team Friday, then used a four-run third inning to take control in a 6-1 victory over visiting Zionsville. The Dragons are now 6-0 to start the season. After starter Sadey Hughbanks stranded two runners in the top of the third, the Dragons pounced in the bottom of the frame to take the lead. Payton Dye reached on an error and Reese Rosenbaum singled to lead off the frame. A wild pitch plated a run. A base hit by Jersi Gross brought home another. Blum then hammered a two-run homer to center to extend the lead to 4-0. Zionsville loaded the bases in the fourth, but Hughbanks induced a grounder to the circle to end the frame. In the fifth, Blum hit a two-out triple and scored on a base hit by Paige Ernstes to extend the lead to 5-0. Zionsville scored its lone run in the sixth on a leadoff homer, but the Dragons responded in the bottom of the frame when Maddie Engle singled and scored on an error. Blum led the Dragons' eight-hit attack, going 2-for-3 with a triple, a homer, two runs and two RBI. Gross was 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Ernstes was 1-for-3 with an RBI. Sydney Oliver was 1-for-3 with a double. Engle and Dye were each 1-for-3 with a run. Rosenbaum was also 1-for-3. Hughbanks pitched four scoreless innings to earn the win, scattering four hits and walking two. Study earned a three-inning save, allowing one run, two hits and fanning two. The Dragons are next in action Monday at Noblesville.