Daily Reporter staff reports
The New Palestine baseball team won its third straight game Thursday, beating Batesville 7-4 at home.
The Dragons used a five-run fourth to take the lead, and pitchers Andy Edwards and Cody Chandler closed it out.
Trailing 3-2, the Dragons came to bat in the fourth and sent 10 hitters to the plate. Edwards was hit with a pitch, then Wes McBride and James Crumlin followed with base hits to load the bases with none out. Tyler Woodcock drove in the tying run with a walk, Braden Roberts brought home another with a grounder, then a wild pitch and an RBI triple by Keegan Watson put the Dragons up 6-3. New Palestine again loaded the bases and scored another run when Chandler was hit by a pitch.
Edwards allowed two earned runs and four hits in five innings, striking out three. Chandler fanned three and allowed a run on two hits in the final two innings.
Batesville took an early lead in the second, but New Palestine tied the game with a leadoff triple by Edwards followed by a McBride RBI hit in the bottom of the inning. In the third, Batesville scored twice on two hits, but New Palestine’s Jason Hall-Manley closed the gap with his third homer of the year, a solo shot to left-center.
McBride was 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI and Hall-Manley 2-for-3 with a homer to lead the Dragons’ seven-hit attack. Watson had a triple, a run and a RBI, as did Edwards.
SOFTball
New Pal’s game vs. Scecina rescheduled
New Palestine’s Friday night game against Scecina has been rescheduled because of a Crusaders’ scheduling conflict.
The makeup date is set for Thursday, where it will be played as the second game of a Dragons’ home doubleheader. New Palestine will take on Connersville at 5:30 p.m. and Scecina for Game 2.
golf
Royals collect top 3 scores vs. Morristown
Nelson Dulin fired a meet-best 38 Thursday in helping Eastern Hancock swing past Morristown 174-199.
Dulin’s performance earned him medalist honors, as he was five or more strokes better than anyone on the course.
Cole Allen and Matt Wilson recorded the second best score of the day for either team with 43s. Kenny Bunnell and Conner Cross each shot 50s for the Royals.
Eastern Hancock takes the course again on Saturday, with Greenfield-Central, at the Delaware Invitational.
New Palestine survives vs. Warren Central
The Dragons scored a 171-175 victory against Warren Central on Thursday at Hawk’s Tail Golf Course in Greenfield.
Brady Elliot shot a team-low 39. Lucas Swanson followed with a 43, Elijah Domogala a 44 and Brody Harter a 45.
The Dragons head back to the links today at Brebeuf.
Tennis
Shorthanded Dragons roll past Morristown
Host New Palestine picked up a 5-0 shutout against Morristown on Thursday, despite several regular starters missing the match because of a choir concert.
Amelia Fleetwood, Lauren Hardebeck and Katie Settergren won the singles matches for the Dragons, while Jamie Mittman/Cassie Willhelm and Lexie Miller/Payton Kost triumphed in their doubles contests.
New Palestine heads back to the courts Monday at Hancock County champion Mt. Vernon.
