Baseball
New Pal puts up big 3rd inning in win
An eight-run third inning Thursday propelled the New Palestine baseball team to a season-opening 11-2 victory against Scecina.
The Dragons struck twice in the first, then broke the game open with the big third inning to go up 10-0. New Palestine added another run in the fourth before Scecina scored a pair in the bottom of the inning. The game was called after five innings due to impending darkness and cold weather.
Jack Walker drove in three runs, going 1 for 3 with a double. Myles Kost paced the offense with a 2-for-3 day with a double, a run and two RBIs. Colby Jenkins had a triple and scored three times. Four of the Dragons’ eight hits were extra-base hits. The Dragons also drew 10 walks, with Jenkins and Nick Rusche each drawing three.
Hickman earned the win on the mound, allowing six hits and one earned run over four innings while striking out seven. Jaden Jaques struck out one in a hitless final inning.
Tennis
Mt. Vernon starts season strong
Mt. Vernon started the 2018 with high expectations and didn’t disappoint in its season opener, losing only five games total in defeating conference foe Pendleton Heights 5-0 on Thursday.
At No.1 singles, Alaina Nelson won 6-0, 6-1. Lydia Ruegsegger won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 2 singles, and Maddy Martin won 6-0, 6-2 at No. 3 singles.
The No. 1 doubles team of Sophie Williams and Olivia Spicer won 6-0, 6-1, and the No. 2 doubles team of Maeve Laughlin and Alexis Lane won 6-0, 61.
“Good win to set the tone for the year,” coach Gabe Muterspaugh said. “I thought singles were dominant and doubles were dominating. Overall, we passed the eye test.”
New Palestine girls fall in opener
The New Palestine girls tennis team was beaten 4-1 in their season opener Thursday at Whiteland.
Dragons No. 1 singles sophomore Megan Long made an impressive start against Whiteland lefthander Reese Johnson, taking the first five games before dropping 12 games in a row to eventually fall 7-5, 6-0.
Playing at No. 2 singles for the Dragons for the first time, junior Sheridan Schrowe was defeated 6-2, 6-0 by Whiteland senior Haley Darling.
The Dragons’ No. 3 singles player Caylie Almond lost a hard-fought three-setter 6-1, 3-6, 6-1.
The Dragons’ No. 1 doubles combination of junior Josee King and senior Ivey Simmons played together for the first time, falling 6-2, 6-3.
At No. 2 doubles for New Palestine, junior Claire Cherry and sophomore Ashley Truman, making her varsity debut, combined well with an attacking strategy to defeated last year’s Warriors No. 1 doubles pair of seniors Hannah Blum and Riley Burnside 7-6 (8-6), 6-1.
