New Palestine High School

The New Palestine baseball team used an eight-run third inning to take command Friday in an 11-1 five-inning victory over Beech Grove. With the game tied 1-1, the Dragons exploded in the third inning to take command and a 9-1 lead. They sent 12 batters to the plate in the frame, which began with a Gavin Neal triple. Two walks loaded the bases for Liam Atkinson, whose sacrifice fly drove in a run. With two runners in scoring position, Ryan Haines ripped a single up the middle to put the Dragons up 4-1. After another out, the Dragons re-filled the merry-go-round. Max Newkirk, running for Haines, took two bases on a wild pitch and then scored on a throwing error by the catcher. Two more walks led to a Rigg Mahurin RBI double. Another walk loaded the bases. All three runners scored on an outfield error to make it a 9-1 game. The Dragons surrendered a run on one hit in the first, but they needed just two batters to answer, as Mahurin reached on a two-base error, stole third and scored on another infield error to tie the game at 1-1. The Dragons triggered the mercy rule in the fifth. Max Havel and Trase Quillen led off with singles. A walk to Ethan Nunnally loaded the bases. Kingston Hedges lined a two-run single to right to end the game. The Dragons had eight hits in the game. Havel and Quillen were 2-for-2 with two runs each. Hedges was 1-for-1 with two RBI. Mahurin was 1-for-3 with a double, two runs and an RBI. Neal was 1-for-2 with a triple, two runs and an RBI. Haines was 1-for-2 with two RBI. The Dragons' pitching combined to allow two hits. Ajay Kropp pitched four innings to seal the victory, allowing two hits, no earned runs and striking out three. Alex Andrews pitched a perfect fifth inning with one strikeout. The Dragons are now 9-2 on the season. They next play Monday at home against Knightstown.