New Palestine High School

Maddie Engle was 4-for-4 and drove in six runs Thursday, leading the New Palestine softball team to a 16-2 victory over host Greenfield-Central. The third-ranked Dragons are now 11-1 on the season and 5-0 in Hoosier Heritage Conference play. The Dragons pulled away late, scoring five runs in each of the last two innings. In addition to Engle's big day, Paige Ernstes was 3-for-4 with two runs and three RBI. Jersi Gross was 2-for-5 and scored three times. Sydney Oliver, Payton Dye, Sydney Miller and Reese Rosenbaum also had hits. Courtney Study earned the win in the circle, scattering three hits and one run over five innings, striking out eight. Cailyn Hurst and Sadey Hughbanks each pitched an inning of relief. The Dragons jumped ahead 2-0 in the first, as the Dragons loaded the bases with one out on an error, walk and hit batter. A bases-loaded walk to Katie Hirschy forced in one run, while a sacrifice fly by Engle brought home another. The score stayed 2-0 to the fourth, when Hirschy was beaned leading off the inning, setting the stage for a two-run homer by Engle to left on the next pitch. In the fifth, the Dragons began to break the game open. Blum led off with a walk, stole second and moved to third on a groundout. She scored on Paige Ernstes' single. Engle then added a base hit to right to plate Ernstes and put NP up 6-0. G-C scored in the bottom of the frame, but the Dragons exploded for five runs in the sixth. They loaded the bases on two walks and a bunt single by Gross. Oliver drilled a two-run single to center. Blum scored on a throwing error as she attempted to steal third. Ernstes then drove in a run with a base hit to center. After an error, Engle drove in her fifth run of the day with a base hit to center to put the Dragons up 11-1. G-C scored in the bottom of the sixth to extend the game, but the Dragons plated five more in the seventh. Gross led off with a double. The next two batters were retired, but Ernstes drove in a run with a double. Hirschy reached on an error, plating Ernstes. Engle, Oliver and Rosenbaum followed with RBI hits. The Dragons outhit G-C 13-4 in the contest. The Dragons next play Friday at home against Heritage Christian.