New Palestine High School

Three pitchers combined on an immaculate no-hitter Wednesday, leading the New Palestine softball team to a 20-0 five-inning victory over Muncie Central in the sectional semifinal. The sixth-ranked Dragons (23-4) advance to face Pendleton Heights (22-5-1) in Thursday's 6 p.m. sectional championship game at New Palestine. The two teams played May 11 at PH, an 11-2 Dragons victory. Sadey Hughbanks, Kenna Tweedy and Cailyn Hurst combined for the no-hitter, with every out coming via strikeout. The Bearcats never put the ball in play in the contest, with their lone baserunner coming via a walk on a 3-2 pitch in the first inning. Sydney Hughbanks was 3-for-3 with two doubles and drove in six runs to lead the Dragons offense, which scored multiple runs in each inning. Ella Holman's RBI single and two-run doubles by Sydney Hughbanks and Allie Blum keyed an eight-run first inning. The Dragons added six more runs in the second, with Hughbanks again hitting a two-run double. In the third, Jersi Gross' RBI single helped add two more runs. The Dragons added another four runs in the fourth, with Hughbanks driving in a run with a hit. Kylee Beranek also had a run-scoring single. The Dragons had nine hits. In addition, they drew 16 walks and 10 more batters were hit by pitches in the contest. Blum was 1-for-1 with a double, a run and two RBI. Beranek was 1-for-2 with a run and an RBI. Addison Hurst was 1-for-1 and scored three runs. Kayla Bain was 1-for-1 with four runs and an RBI. Holman was 1-for-2 with two runs and two RBI. Gross was 1-for-2 with two runs and two RBI.