NEW PALESTINE — The two-time defending state champions didn’t let up in Wednesday’s Class 3A Softball Sectional 27 semifinal game at New Palestine High School.
No. 1 ranked New Palestine (24-3) scored in every inning, ending the evening early due to the 10-run mercy rule in an 11-1 victory against No. 15 Connersville (18-10).
The Dragons will take on Indian Creek (9-13), a 5-2 winner over Rushville in Wednesday’s first semifinal game, today at 6 p.m. for the sectional championship.
“I thought we did a really nice job after they scored in the top of the first and had a little momentum," New Palestine coach Ed Marcum said. "Coming back with three in the bottom of the first was huge.
"Being able to score every inning, as a coach, that’s what you want. We stayed up and we stayed with it. No matter where we were in the order we were able to produce."
New Palestine had 14 hits — eight for extra bases — and scored three in the first, one in the second, four in the third, two in the fourth and one in the fifth.
“It felt really good (to hit like we did Wednesday),” first baseman Macy Miller said. "Especially at this time of the season. This is when we need it. Hopefully it will carry through the rest of the tournament."
Miller was one of many Dragons to have a big night at the plate. She went 3-for-4, including a two-run first-inning double, a solo home run in the fourth and an RBI-bad hop single to end the game with one out in the fifth inning.
Michaela Jones had a three-hit game, too. She had a pair of doubles, including a two-run, two-bagger in the third. Tatum Biddle was 3-for-3 with three runs scored.
Eight different players had hits and four different players had multi-hit games.
Jaylin Calvert went 2-for-4 with a second-inning solo home run.
It was more than enough for pitcher Sam Booe, who got a chance to hit in the fourth inning, too, and produced an RBI-double.
In the circle, Booe struck out eight and gave up five hits, three to Connersville leadoff hitter Ashley Ruble.
After the Spartans scored in the first inning, they didn’t get a runner further than first base. On the other side, the Dragons kept growing their lead.
"It makes me in a good mood," Booe admitted of all the run support. "I feel like I can just throw it and if they hit it I have a good defense behind me. They had my back on both sides of the field."
The Dragons have been hitting well the entire tournament so far. In Monday’s first round game, they beat Beech Grove 21-1.
"I felt last week, after the big win with Kokomo, we swung the bat really well against Delta," Marcum said. "I thought that was kind of a spring board for what we have been able to do this week. The way we hit the ball Monday and with the way we hit (before today’s game), I thought we’d be ready to go."
Connersville had a brief 1-0 lead. In the top of the first, Ruble led the game off with a double. She scored on a one-out single by Allison Woytik.
It was the second meeting of the season between the two schools. At New Palestine on May 7, the Dragons beat the Spartans 9-0.
Tonight’s championship game is a rematch of last year’s final. New Palestine beat Indian Creek 11-0 in last year’s game. They did not meet in the regular season this year.
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No. 1 New Palestine 11, No. 15 Connersville 1
CHS (18-10);100;00;—;1;5;2
NP (24-3);314;21;—;11;14;0
WP: Sam Booe. LP: Jeri Ellis.
HR: Jaylin Calvert, Macy Miller (NP). 2B: Ashley Ruble (CHS); Michaela Jones 2, Macy Miller, Tatum Biddle, Raegan Hiatt, Sam Booe (NP), RBI: Allison Woytik (CHS); Macy Miller 4, Michaela Jones 2, Jaylin Calvert, Raegan Hiatt, Emma Tucher, Sam Booe (NP).
Notables: Macy Miller 3-for-4 2B, HR, 4 RBI; Michaela Jones 3-for-4 2 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R; Tatum Biddle 3-for-3 3 R, 2B; Sam Booe WP, 8 K, 1-for-1 2B RBI; Jaylin Calvert 2-for-4 2R HR RBI.
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