Softball
Royals cruise to win
Eastern Hancock rolled to a big run-rule road win on Wednesday, topping Wes-Del, 19-3, to improve to 7-2-1 on the year and 3-0 in the Mid-Eastern Conference.
The Royals piled up 17 hits in the win, with Paige Wickard and Maddie Turner leading the way with three each and Caroline Stapleton, Kaylee Stewart and Madison Clutinger each adding two. Stewart and Stapleton each had three RBIs to lead the offense, while Hannah Lewis added two on a home run. Wickard, Stewart and Bailey Stephens each also had two RBIs.
Elise Bittinger threw a complete game on the mound, allowing just five hits and three runs.
Baseball
Dragons earn home win
New Palestine used two big innings to beat the Knightstown Panthers, 12-3, Wednesday at home.
Jack Walker led the Dragons at the plate, collecting three of the team’s eight hits. He was 3-for-3 with a walk, two runs and three RBIs. Colby Jenkins was 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Grant Wiegand scored twice. Noah Mack was 1-for-3 with a run and two RBIs, including a double. Eric Roudebush had a run and an RBI. Alex Kropp was 1-for-4 with an RBI. Henry Giesler was 1-for-3 with a run and two RBIs.
Jaden Jaques (1-2) threw 3⅔ innings in relief, allowing one earned run and four hits, striking out three. Starter Josh Jaques allowed four hits and one earned run in 2⅓ innings. Vince Dant faced the minimum in the seventh, allowing one hit.
Girls tennis
Dragons get sweep
New Palestine won its second match in as many days Wednesday, sweeping Beech Grove 5-0, dropping only seven games in the process.
At singles, Megan Long won 6-0, 6-1; Nicole Wernimont won 6-2, 6-2; and Caylie Almond won 6-0, 6-0.
At doubles, Claire Cherry and Josee King posted a 6-0, 6-2 victory, while Sheridan Schrowe and Ashley Truman won 6-0, 6-0.
The Dragons are now 4-2 on the season.
Cougars top Lapel
Greenfield-Central bounced back from Tuesday’s loss to county rival New Palestine, topping Lapel on Wednesday, 4-1.
The No. 2 doubles team of Kaleigh Stephenson and Grace Silcox were off the courts first, winning 6-1, 6-0. The No. 1 doubles duo of Aly Proper and Erin Wright finished next with a 6-4, 6-3 win.
At No. 1 singles, Avery Spencer earned the third point after winning 6-1, 6-1. Grace Hall won the fourth match of the night at No. 2 singles in a third set tiebreaker, 6-4, 4-6, 10-8.
The Cougars are now 2-7 on the year.
