New Palestine High School

The New Palestine softball team slugged its way to a 12-6 victory Tuesday over Yorktown in a matchup of ranked teams. The Dragons entered the contest No. 9 in Class 4A, while Yorktown was No. 6 in 3A. The Dragons slugged four homers in the contest - from Katie Hirschy, Paige Ernstes, Sydney Oliver and Reese Rosenbaum. Both Hirschy and Oliver had multiple extra-base hits, powering a 13-hit attack. Courtney Study earned the win, allowing six hits and four runs - one earned - over 6 2/3 innings. She fanned three. The Dragons fell behind 1-0 in the top of the second, but immediately answered on a solo homer to center by Rosenbaum to lead off the bottom of the frame. Engle reached on an error and Hirschy homered to center three itches later to give the Dragons a 3-1 edge. A two-run homer by Yorktown tied the game in the top of the third, but the Dragons broke it open in the bottom of the frame. Aglaia Rudd led off with a double. Ernstes followed with a one-out two-run homer to re-take the lead for the Dragons. A walk to Rosenbaum set up back-to-back RBI doubles from Engle and Hirschy to put the Dragons up 7-3. Nyla Lewis followed with an RBI single and Oliver a run-scoring triple. Alyssa Mumaw's sacrifice fly put NP up 10-3. Yorktown scored a single run in the fourth, but Oliver answered with a two-run homer to make it a 12-4 game. Yorktown again answered with a pair of runs in the sixth. With the bases loaded, Study induced a groundout for the final out to seal the victory. Oliver was 2-for-3 with two runs, a triple, a homer and three RBI. Hirschy was 2-for-4 with two runs, a homer, a double and three RBI. Ersntes was 2-for-4 with a run and two RBI. Rosenbaum was 2-for-3 with a homer and two runs. Rudd was 2-for-3 with a double. Engle was 1-for-4 with a double, an RBI and two runs. Lewis was 1-for-2 with a run and an RBI. Jersi Gross was 1-for-1 and scored twice. The Dragons are now 6-2 on the season and 1-0 in the Hoosier Heritage Conference. They continue their conference season Thursday at home against Mt. Vernon.