New Palestine High School

The New Palestine softball team traveled to Northwest Indiana Saturday to face two of Class 4A's top teams. The Class 3A No. 1 Dragons outhit both of their opponents, but dropped both games. They fell to a barrage of homers in a 5-4 defeat to Class 4A No. 10 Munster in the first game, then dropped a 2-1 decision to 4A No. 3 Crown Point. Against Munster, the Dragons jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the first, loading the bases on two walks and an error, and scoring them on a sacrifice fly by Maddie Engle and a two-run double by Amber Hurt. However, the Mustangs would hit two of their four homers in the bottom of the inning - both solo shots to back-to-back hitters - to draw within 3-2. A solo homer to lead off the second tied the game at 3-3. The Dragons had opportunities early, but left two runners on base in the second and the bases loaded in the third. They re-took the lead in the fourth, as Engle was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on Hurt's single up the middle. However, the Mustangs hit a two-run homer in the fifth to take the lead. NP had two runners on with none out in the sixth, but was unable to score. Hurt led the Dragons' offense, going 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI. Hirschy was 2-for-3 with a double and a run. Payton Dye was 1-for-3 with a run. Catherine Trebley was 1-for-3, as the Dragons outhit their hosts 7-6. Sadey Hughbanks pitched a complete game, allowing six hits, five earned runs and fanning six. The day's second game saw a late Dragons rally fall short against Crown Point. The Dragons again had chances, outhitting the Bulldogs 9-4 in the game. But a single, error and passed ball allowed CP to take a 1-0 lead in the second, and two hits plated another run in the third. The Dragons left seven runners on base in the first five innings before getting on the board in the sixth. Kylee Beranek singled, moved to second on a base hit by Trebley and scored on Callie Cromwell's two-out hit. The Dragons loaded the bases, as Jersi Gross followed with a single, but a lineout ended the threat. A one-out single by Engle put the tying run aboard in the seventh, but the Dragons were unable to move the runner, as they left 11 runners on base in the game. Gross was 2-for-4, while Cromwell was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Beranek was 2-for-4 with a double and a run. Hirschy, Engle and Trebley also had hits. Tessa Mohr started the game for the Dragons and allowed one unearned run in 1 2/3 innings. Hughbanks finished, allowing one run, three hits and striking out six in 4 1/3 innings. The Dragons are now 20-4 on the season. They next play Thursday at home against Connersville.