YORKTOWN — Even the state’s No. 2 team in Class 3A couldn’t slow down the New Palestine offense.
The top-ranked Dragons scored at least 11 runs for their fourth consecutive game to start the season, taking down conference foe Yorktown 15-8 on Tuesday.
The final score was closer than what most of the game would indicate. The Dragons were close to causing a run-rule finish, but Yorktown kept fighting back, scoring just enough to keep the game going.
That was the one criticism New Palestine coach Ed Marcum had about his team’s performance.
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Click here to purchase photos from this gallery“We’ve got to close games out,” Marcum said. “We could’ve finished this one sooner.”
New Palestine (4-0) led 11-1 after two innings, but Yorktown pushed across runs in both the third and fourth inning to get within eight.
After New Palestine scored two to start the sixth inning, Yorktown was facing a run-rule loss. Trailing 13-3 and down to their final out, the Tigers offense finally found its footing.
Yorktown (5-2) strung together six straight two-out hits — five singles and a grand slam by freshman Ainsley Phillips – to plate five runs in the inning, drawing within 13-8.
The Dragons bounced back in the top of the seventh, when Tatum Biddle blasted a two-run home run to get his team to the final score of 15-8.
“We took a little of their momentum back,” Marcum said.
Yorktown pitcher Brienna Bilbrey got out of the first inning unscathed after hitting the first batter of the game and walking Ashley Prange to put two on with no outs. Two popups and one groundout later, and the Tigers held the Dragons high-powered offense scoreless.
Then, the Dragons offense came alive.
The second inning was a display of power for New Palestine. The Dragons put up five runs on the strength of three home runs. Macy Miller hit a solo shot and Jaylin Calvert and Emily O’Connor both hit two-run blasts to give New Palestine a big early lead.
“Macy’s solo shot there got us going,” Marcum said. “The floodgates kind of opened from there.”
The runs kept pouring through in the third, as New Palestine batted around in the inning, sending 10 batters to the plate and putting the game out of reach. Four singles, a pair of Tigers errors and a three-run double by Michaela Jones led to the Dragons plating six runs in the inning, taking an 11-1 lead into the bottom of the frame.
All nine New Palestine starters registered at least one hit in the win. The Dragons outhit Yorktown 15 to 10.
Leading the way for the Dragons offense were Biddle, who finished 3 for 4 with three runs scored and two RBIs, and Jones, who went 2 for 4 with a double and three RBIs.
Emma Tucher, Miller and Tete Hart each had two hits for New Palestine.
“We focus on just having good at-bats,” Marcum said. “If you try to hit home runs, you’ll hit popups. We look to hit the ball hard.”
With the four home runs Tuesday, New Palestine has launched 20 homers in four games, averaging five per outing.
That’s impressive enough given the frigid weather the first few weeks of the season. According to Marcum, it gets more impressive when you look at the level of competition the Dragons have faced thus far, including this week’s No. 2 team.
“The thing about this is, it’s not against bad teams,” Marcum said. “This is against good teams. Franklin Central, Hamilton Southeastern, Yorktown — these are great programs and have been great programs.”
The Dragons look to continue their run today at home against Zionsville.
