New Palestine High School

Rigg Mahurin has been nearly unhittable all season. Saturday, he was completely unhittable, helping carry the New Palestine baseball team to its third straight regional title and fourth consecutive Elite Eight appearance. The Dragons senior lefty threw his first career no-hitter, while the offense came to life late. Mahurin had nine strikeouts and didn't allow an earned run in the contest, earning the pitching win for the third consecutive game. After walking two batters in the first inning, he proceeded to retire 12 batters in a row, the string only ended by a two-out hit batter in the fifth. Cascade's only other runner was from a one-out walk in the seventh, which came home after an errant pickoff throw and a two-out steal of home. Mahurin struck out nine and didn't allow an earned run in the victory. Meanwhile, the Dragons gave him all the offense he'd need early. Jackson Kamp led off the second inning with a sharp double into the leftfield corner. After two were out, a pair of walks loaded the bases for Ryan Haines, who drove in Kamp with a sharp single to left. The Cadets threw out a runner trying to score to end the inning, but NP had a lead. The Dragons added to it in the second, when Mahurin led off with a single and scored on Jacob Morris' line-drive single to left. From there, the game stayed a 2-0 contest. The Dragons were retired in order in the fourth, then loaded the bases in the fifth, but a sharp lineout ended the inning. They finally broke through in the sixth. Three walks loaded the bases for Morris, who launched a ball to right that one-hopped the fence for a two-run ground-rule double. A balk drove in a third run in the inning, while Kingston Hedges' sacrifice fly made it a 6-0 game. The Dragons sent 10 batters to the plate in the inning. In the seventh, they added some insurance. Haines and Mahurin led off with singles. Gavin Neal drove in a run with a grounder and reached on the error. The Dragons swiped a run by scoring on the front half of a double-steal to go up 8-0. Morris then belted a solo homer to extend the lead to 9-0. Morris led the Dragons' offense, going 3-for-5 with a double, a homer and four RBI. Mahurin was 2-for-4 with two runs from the leadoff spot. Haines was 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Neal was 1-for-3 with two walks, a double, a run and an RBI. Kamp was 1-for-3 with a double and a run. In addition to 10 hits, the Dragons drew 11 walks and three hit batters. The Dragons had 14 runners left on base - loading the bases in five different innings. The third-ranked Dragons (23-3) advance to next week's semistate, where they will face Guerin Catholic in the first semifinal. The Golden Eagles beat No. 9 Cathedral 5-4 in eight innings. No. 7 Jasper will meet Greensburg in the second semifinal. The site - which will be either Mooresville, Mitchell, Jasper or the University of Evansville - will be announced Sunday by the IHSAA.