New Palestine High School

The Class 3A No. 2 New Palestine softball team scored four first-inning runs and never looked back Thursday in an 11-1, six-inning victory over 4A No. 7 Avon. The game was a rematch of last spring's semistate semifinal game, which the Dragons also won en route to a state runner-up finish. Katie Hirschy was 4-for-4 and Kenna Tweedy had a bases-clearing double in the first to lead the Dragons. This time, the Dragons wasted no time. After giving up an unearned run in the top of the first, they struck quickly in the bottom of the frame. Maddie Engle drew a one-out walk. Payton Dye and Katie Hirschy followed with singles to load the bases. After Saydie Miller's walk forced in a run, Kenna Tweedy lined a bases-clearing, two-out double to center, putting the Dragons up 4-1. The Dragons added a run in the second when Engle walked and scored on Hirschy's base hit. In the fourth, Hirschy delivered a two-out hit, plating a run, while another came home on an error to push the lead to 7-1. NP made it 9-1 in the fifth on an RBI double by Lyndsay Goodin and an RBI fielder's choice by Engle. The Dragons ended the game in the sixth on a two-run single by Tessa Mohr. The Dragons outhit Avon 12-3. In addition to Hirschy's four-hit game - in which she also scored twice and drove in two - Dye was 2-for-4 with a run. Gross was 1-for-3 with a run. Miller was 1-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. Tweedy was 1-for-2 with a double and thre RBI. Mohr was 1-for-1 with an RBI. Goodin was 1-for-1 with a double, a run and an RBI. Lauren Wagoner was 1-for-1 with a run. Sadey Hughbanks pitched a complete-game win, allowing three hits, no earned runs, no walks and fanning three. The Dragons are now 3-0 on the season, having outscored their three foes 31-1. They next play Friday at Plainfield.