New Palestine High School

The New Palestine softball team used a three-run sixth inning Monday to pull away from Noblesville in a 6-3 victory. The Dragons improved to 11-1 on the season with the victory. Katie Hirschy started things off with a long homer in the first, but the Dragons found themselves nursing a 3-2 lead going into the sixth. After forcing the Millers to leave two runners on base in the top of the inning, the Dragons broke through in the bottom. Catherine Trebley reached on an error and Kylee Beranek walked to lead off the inning. After a lineout, Payton Dye lined a double to left to drive both runners home. Maddie Engle followed with a line-drive single to plate Dye and push the lead to 6-2. Noblesville got a run back on two hits in the seventh, but Saydie Miller threw a runner out advancing to second and Sadey Hughbanks retired the last batter on a flyout to end the game. Noblesville led 1-0 in the first after a single, wild pitch and two groundouts. But the lead was short-lived, as Hirschy blasted a 1-1 pitch over the centerfield fence - as well as over the berm behind dead center - for a long homer to tie the game. The Dragons took the lead in the third, when Beranek led off with a double. Jersi Gross followed with a bunt, which induced an error on the Millers, allowing Gross to reach and Beranek to score. Gross moved into scoring position on a groundout and scored on Engle's single up the middle, giving the Dragons a 3-1 edge. Noblesville drew a run back with two hits in the fifth to cut the lead to 3-2, setting the stage for the Dragons to pull away. The Millers outhit the Dragons 9-7, but Hughbanks pitched a solid game. She allowed three earned runs and struck out five. Engle was 2-for-4 with two RBI. Hirschy was 2-for-3 with a double and a solo homer. Dye was 1-for-4 with a run and two RBI. Miller was 1-for-3. Beranek was 1-for-2 with two runs. The Dragons are next in action Tuesday at New Castle.