New Palestine High School

In a matchup of the Class 3A co-No. 1s, the New Palestine softball team rallied from two deficits to beat Roncalli 4-3 Wednesday afternoon at NPHS. The Dragons improved to 15-1 on the season with the victory. Saydie Miller's two-out, two-run fifth-inning double on a full count provided the winning margin for the Dragons. With the Dragons trailing 3-2, Jersi Gross drew a leadoff walk - her third of the game. After the next two batters were retired, a wild pitch moved Gross into scoring position. With a 1-0 count, Maddie Engle was intentionally walked. Another wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position. There, Miller worked the count to 3-2, then laced a changeup down the third-base line into the corner, plating both runners and giving the Dragons the lead. Sadey Hughbanks then came in and retired the Royals in order in the sixth, then pitched around a leadoff single in the seventh, aided by Payton Dye snaring a line drive and Kylee Beranek making a running catch on a flyball to short left. Kenna Tweedy started the game and rotated with Hughbanks over the first four innings. Roncalli took a 2-0 lead in the first, putting runners on via hit and error and then delivering a two-run double. The Dragons tied the game in the bottom of the second, as Hughbanks laced a single to left and Tweedy followed with a walk. After a wild pitch moved them into scoring position, Beranek roped a grounder into the hole on the left side, plating both runners. Roncalli re-took the lead in the third on a leadoff triple and RBI groundout. After another single, Hughbanks came on in relief of Tweedy to record the final out. Tweedy went back out for the fourth, and Roncalli hit two singles and a grounder to third. With one out, Hughbanks came back on and induced a popout and a punchout to again retire the threat. Tessa Mohr then came in for the fifth inning, pitching a perfect frame before yielding to Hughbanks to nail down the game. With the Dragons taking the lead in the fifth, Mohr earned her first varsity win, while Hughbanks tallied the save. The Dragons were outhit 7-4, but drew six walks in the game, including three by Gross. Miller was 1-for-3 with a two-run double. Beranek was 1-for-3 with two RBI. Hughbanks was 1-for-2 with a single and a run. Catherine Trebley was 1-for-3. The Dragons are next in action Thursday at home against Greenfield-Central.