New Palestine High School

The New Palestine softball team continued its winning streak Thursday, beating Hoosier Heritage Conference rival Greenfield-Central 6-2. The Dragons got all the offense they needed in the second inning, when they plated four runs on six hits. The Dragons had a relentless attack, pounding 14 hits in the game, with Jersi Gross and Katie Hirschy each delivering three. Twelve of the hits were singles. The Dragons left two runners on base in the opening frame, but fired up the merry-go-round in the second. Sadey Hughbanks led off with a single. After back-to-back fielder's choices left a runner on first and two outs, the Dragons started a hit parade. Kylee Beranek reached on an infield hit. Gross, Payton Dye, Hirschy and Maddie Engle followed with consecutive RBI singles to put the Dragons up 4-0. G-C drew two runs back in the third on three hits, including a two-run, two-out single. But the Dragons extended the lead in the fourth on another multi-hit inning. Gross led off with a single and scored on Hirschy's double to center. Engle followed with an RBI single to put the Dragons up 6-2. Saydie Miller followed with another single, but a lineout and a flyout ended the threat. Hughbanks cruised in the later half of the game. After the Cougars scored twice, they mustered one baserunner - on an error - in the last four innings. She allowed four hits and two earned runs in a complete-game win, striking out six. Gross was 3-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. Hirschy was 1-for-4 with a double, a run and an RBI. Engle was 2-for-4 with two RBI. Catherine Trebley was 2-for-3. Beranek was 1-for-3 with a run. Dye was 1-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Miller was 1-for-4 and Hughbanks 1-for-3. The Class 3A No. 1 Dragons are now 16-1 on the season and 3-1 in Hoosier Heritage Conference play. They next play Saturday with a two-team doubleheader at Jennings County, facing the host Panthers at 10 a.m. and Columbus North at noon.