New Palestine High School

The New Palestine softball team rolled to a 12-1 six-inning victory over Hamilton Southeastern Thursday in a rematch of last year's 4A state championship game. Both teams came in ranked No. 2 in their respective classes - NP in Class 3A, HSE in Class 4A. But the Dragons, who have been dominant in the early part of the season, took command early for their sixth straight victory. NP has outscored teams 63-4 to go 6-0. The Dragons had just one baserunner through the first two innings against HSE ace Grace Swedarsky, but that changed in the third when Callie Cromwell hit a leadoff homer. That got the Dragons rolling and led to a five-run inning. Jersi Gross reached on an error and scored on Maddie Engle's double to left. Payton Dye followed with a double and Katie Hirschy a two-run homer. The Dragons added another run in the fourth when Kylee Beranek drilled an RBI double to left. RBI singles by Kenna Tweedy and Beranek sandwiched around an RBI groundout by Catherine Trebley to make it a 10-0 game in the fifth. HSE scored in the bottom of the inning to stay alive, but the Dragons added two more runs in the sixth when Dye scored on Saydie Miller's groundout and Tweedy singled in a run. Sadey Hughbanks pitched a complete game, allowing three hits, no earned runs and striking out five. The Dragons had five extra-base hits among their 10 hits. Hirschy was 1-for-3 with a two-run homer and three runs scored. Tweedy was 2-for-4 with a run and two RBI. Beranek was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI. Gross was 1-for-4 with a run. Engle was 1-for-4 with a double, a run and an RBI. Dye was 1-for-3 with a double, two runs and an RBI. Miller was 1-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Cromwell was 1-for-2 with a solo homer and two runs. The Dragons are back home Friday against Carmel.