New Palestine High School

The New Palestine baseball team used a 10-run third inning Thursday to power itself to a 12-2 five-inning victory over Shelbyville in the Dragons' home opener. With the game tied 2-2, Blaine Nunnally hit a two-run triple to touch off the fourth inning. He later helped cap the 10-run, eight-hit frame with an RBI single. The inning began when Ben Morwick was hit by a pitch, followed by Adam Rickey's single. Nunnally cleared the bases with a triple to center, putting the Dragons up 4-2. Nunnally scored on an error. Two more walks loaded the bases, and then the Dragons began the merry-go-round. Gavin Neal hit a two-run single and Jackson Kamp an RBI hit, making the score 8-2. Brayden Marrow loaded the bases with a bunt single. Rickey, Nunnally and Ben Hirschy followed with RBI hits to push the lead to 11-2 before Rickey came home on a wild pitch with the 12th run. Henry Thorpe nailed the game down on the mound, allowing three hits, two earned runs and striking out six in four innings. Rickey pitched around a hit in the fifth inning to seal the victory. Shelbyville took advantage of two hits and a walk to take a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. The Dragons answered in the second. With two outs and a runner on, Neal and Jacob Morris hit back-to-back RBI doubles to tie the game. Nunnally led the Dragons' 10-hit attack, going 2-for-3 with a triple and three RBI. Neal was 2-for-2 with a double, two runs and three RBI. Rickey was 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. Kamp was 2-for-3 with a double, a run and two RBI. Hirschy was 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Marrow was 1-for-3 with a run. Jacob Morris also scored twice. The Dragons (2-0, 2-0 HHC) are next in action Saturday at Batesville with a noon first pitch.