New Palestine High School

The New Palestine baseball team started the day with two big innings Saturday morning and sailed to a 13-4 victory over Franklin Central. The Dragons built a 13-0 lead after two, scoring six runs in the first and seven in the second. Much of the damage was done buy the Dragons' No. 8 and 9 hitters, as Nic Deering was 3-for-4 with a double, two runs and two RBI from the No. 8 spot, while Michael Thorpe was 2-for-3 with a double, a triple and four RBI. They combined for five of the Dragons' eight hits on the day. In the first, three walks and an error plated the first run. With two outs, the Dragons began adding on. A three-base error brought home two runs to put the Dragons up 3-0. After a walk to Henry Thorpe, Deering drilled an RBI double to right to plate a run and Michael Thorpe followed with a two-run double to right to extend the advantage to 6-0. In the second, an error, a base hit by Jackson Kamp and a walk to Rigg Mahurin loaded the bases with none out. Gavin Neal drove in two runs with a hit. After two outs, Deering plated a run with an infield single and Michael Thorpe launched a two-run triple to center. After a walk to Adam Rickey, Thorpe swiped home as the lead runner on a double-steal, and Kamp finished the inning he started with an RBI single to center. Kamp finished the day with two hits, a run and an RBI. The Dragons had just one hit the rest of the way, but cruised to the victory. FC scored four unearned runs in the fifth to extend the game. Jacob Morris earned the pitching win, allowing two hits and fanning five in four scoreless innings. Neal pitched an inning of relief and Mahurin closed it out by striking out five in two hitless innings. The Dragons are now 9-2 on the season. They next play Monday at Knightstown.