New Palestine High School

Katie Hirschy hit two homers and drove in five runs Thursday, leading the New Palestine softball team to a 9-3 victory over Hoosier Heritage Conference rival Shelbyville. The victory improved the Dragons' record to 13-1 and 2-1 in HHC play. Hirschy got things started with a two-run single in the first. She added a solo homer in the third and a two-run blast in the fourth. On a windy day, the Dragons fell behind 1-0 on two wind-aided doubles in the first, but quickly took the lead in the bottom of the inning. Jersi Gross led off with a walk and Payton Dye followed with a line-drive double over the centerfielder's head. Hirschy followed with a sharp single to left to plate both runs. The Dragons scored in five of their six at-bats. They manufactured a run in the second, as Kenna Tweedy led off with a single and Catherine Trebley was hit by a pitch. Callie Cromwell sacrificed them into scoring position, and Gross followed with a squeeze bunt, as Tweedy dashed home and beat the throw. Hirschy blasted a solo homer in the third to extend the lead to 4-1. Shelbyville drew a run back in the fourth on a leadoff single and a two-out double, but the Dragons again extended the lead. Dye hit a two-out single to left. Hirschy followed by hitting a hard line drive to left-center that dropped over the fence for a two-run blast, her second homer of the game, pushing the lead to 6-2. Shelbyville again scored in the sixth on a solo homer by Addison Stieneker. In the bottom of the innning, the Dragons responded with three runs on four hits. Gross led off with a single and quickly stole second. Dye flew out to the warning track, moving Gross to third. Hirschy was intentionally walked and stole second, putting two runners in scoring position. Engle looped a triple into the rightfield corner, plating both runs. She then scored on Saydie Miller's groundout. Sadey Hughbanks earned the win, allowing three earned runs on five hits. She struck out five. Tessa Mohr nailed down the final inning, allowing one hit and striking out one. Hirschy reached in all four plate appearances, going 3-for-3 with three runs and five RBI. She now has five homers on the season. Engle was 3-for-4 with a triple, a run and two RBI. Dye was 2-for-4 with a double and two runs. Gross was 1-for-2 with two runs and an RBI. Kylee Beranek was 1-for-3. Lauren Wagoner was 1-for-1. Tweedy was 1-for-3 with a run. The Dragons are next in action Saturday at New Castle.