Daily Reporter staff reports
The New Palestine baseball team fell 3-2 to Decatur Central in an eight-inning regular-season finale Tuesday night on the road.
The host Hawks built an early 2-0 lead in the first inning before the Dragons rallied to tie the game with runs in the third and fifth innings.
Nick Rusche paced the Dragons’ five-hit attack, going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Evan Fitzgerald had a hit and an RBI. Cody Long had a hit and scored a run while Colby Jenkins worked two walks and scored a run.
Kyle Gardner (6-1) scattered seven hits through 41/3 innings of relief after taking over for Jarrett Jaques, who had three strikeouts over three innings.
Class 3A No. 7 New Palestine enters the postseason with a 19-9 record. The Dragons open the Bishop Chatard Sectional on Saturday at 2 p.m.
Cougars finish on winning note
The Greenfield-Central Cougars posted an 8-3 win against Triton Central at home Monday to wrap up their regular-season on a positive note.
The Cougars had eight hits and charged back from an early 3-1 deficit with a five-run frame in the bottom of the fourth.
Greenfield-Central opens the Richmond Sectional on Saturday at 1 p.m. against Pendleton Heights.
The Cougars improved to 10-17 on the year with Tyler Mundell earning the win on the mound with six strikeouts in four innings and one earned run.
Nick Atwood finished 1-for-4 with two RBIs to lead the lineup. Mundell was 1-for-2 while Drey Jameson went 1-for-3 with two runs and an RBI.
Johnny Davis was 2-for-3 with an RBI and Josh Mundell was 1-for-2 with an RBI.
Golf
Dragons shoot season best
The New Palestine golf team put together a team-best performance on Tuesday afternoon for senior night at Hawk’s Tail in Greenfield.
Despite losing to Greenwood 166-176, the team’s score was season-low at home this season.
Nick Lyon led the Dragons with a 40 to share medalist honors with three golfers from Greenwood.
Blake Barnette followed with a 41. Evan Rejer shot a 47 while Elijah Domogala, Lucas Swanson and Matthew Kelley all recorded 48s. Hunter Jones contributed a 49.
“We played our best home round of the year on senior night but still came up short,” Dragons head coach Gregg Greene said. “Rejer continued his steady game and Nick Lyons shared medalist … The Dragons putted very well and hit more fairways which made it easier to score. We have a week to get ready for county and longer for sectional.”
