New Palestine High School

A hot start led the 4A No. 4 New Palestine softball team to a 14-9 victory over No. 9 Center Grove Wednesday at CG. The Dragons scored four times in the first and eight in the third to take a 12-0 lead. CG clawed back, but the Dragons added two insurance runs in the seventh to give themselves some breathing room. The Dragons are now 9-0 and have scored at least 10 runs in seven of their nine games. Paige Ernstes was 3-for-5 and drive in five runs for the Dragons. She also doubled and scored twice. Katie Hirschy added a two-run homer. Allie Blum was 2-for-4 with three runs and an RBI, while Maddie Engle was 2-for-4 with a run, helping pace a 12-hit attack. Payton Dye, Sydney Oliver, Reese Rosenbaum and Saydie Miller also had hits for the Dragons. The Dragons pounced quickly, loading the bases with none out in the first. Ernstes' single to left plated two runs. Hirschy brought home another run with an RBI groundout and Rosenbaum followed with an RBI double to left. In the third, the Dragons again loaded the bases with none out. Ella Holman's bases-loaded walk forced in a run. Dye followed by singling in two runs. A single by Blum, a groundout by Oliver and a single by Ernstes all followed and drove in a run each. Hirschy then blasted a two-run homer to center to put the Dragons up 12-0. CG began clawing back, scoring three runs in the third, two in the fifth and four in the sixth to close the Dragons' lead to 12-9. In the seventh, the Dragons struck with two outs. Back-to-back errors put two runners in scoring position, and Ernstes cashed in with a two-run double. Courtney Study then set the Trojans down in order in the bottom of the seventh to seal the game. Study earned the pitching win, allowing no hits and one earned run in 3 2/3 innings. She started the game, then came back in for the final four outs. Sadey Hughbanks allowed one earned run and fanned one in 2 2/3 innings of relief, while Cailyn Hurst allowed one earned run in 2/3 of an inning. The Dragons allowed six hits. Six of CG's nine runs were unearned. The Dragons are back in action Thursday at HHC foe Shelbyville.