WEST LAFAYETTE — The New Palestine Dragons softball team has been a mainstay in the state record books for years.
They added to their softball dominance on Saturday in a big way and added some entries while they were at it.
Facing Hoosier Heritage Conference rival Yorktown with the Class 3A state championship on the line, the Dragons were looking to make history at Purdue University’s Bittinger Field. They did just that.
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New Palestine claimed its third consecutive state championship — the first three-peat in state softball history — by shutting out the Tigers, 10-0.
“There was some pressure, but we know our talent,” said senior Emily O’Connor, who won the Mental Attitude Award after the game. “We know what we can do out here. It just feels good to finally execute it and get those runs across the board. As we say, pressure is a privilege. We were just honored to be out here and have that pressure on us.”
The Dragons started fast, scoring twice before ever recording an out. They finished even faster, pouring in seven runs in the sixth inning and adding the final run in the seventh, punctuating their state championship with a display of their high-octane offense.
It all added up to the sixth state championship in program history and coach Ed Marcum’s sixth, moving him into first place in title wins.
Adding to their place in history, New Palestine set a Class 3A State Finals record for walks drawn in a game (eight), while also tying the records for hits in an inning (seven) and runs batted in (10).
“I’m really blessed to have this outstanding group of very talented young ladies. We were hitting the ball really hard, but we just kept hitting it in the air,” Marcum said. “The wind was knocking it down. We talked that last inning about trying to level it out, try to hit line drives and make their defense work. It really paid off. We just stayed with it.”
Sophomore Sam Booe, who finished the season a perfect 18-0 in the circle, pitched a gem of a game, helping the Dragons stay out in front while the offense stalled for the middle innings.
She allowed just two hits while striking out six.
“I came into the game and I was really nervous knowing there was a huge crowd in front of me,” Booe said. “As soon as I stepped into the circle I looked around me. I have a great defense, I have a great team that can hit the ball. I just did my thing and let them do theirs.”
“Sam was amazing. Pressure didn’t get to her at all,” Marcum said. “She stepped up, she was hitting all her spots, pitched a great game, obviously.”
The win capped an incredible career for the six New Palestine seniors — O’Connor, Tatum Biddle, Jaylin Calvert, Macy Miller, Emma Tucher and Sarah Greene. They finished their high school careers with three state championships and only six losses in the past three years.
They were singularly focused all year on completing the three-peat and going out as champions. They did so in dominating fashion, winning each tournament game by at least 10 runs on their path to history.
“It feels so unreal. I’m still so excited, I’m pumped up about it,” Tucher said. “It was just awesome to be able to play with all my teammates, all my seniors, and get the three-peat and make history.”
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State Finals starters
CF Jaylin Calvert, Sr.
SS Michaela Jones, Jr.
3B Emily O’Connor, Sr.
1B Macy Miller, Sr.
2B Tatum Biddle, Sr.
C Raegan Hiatt, Jr.
DP Kinsey Mitchell, So.
RF Emma Tucher, Sr.
LF Kendal Calvert, So.
P Sam Booe, So.
Reserves
Sarah Greene, Sr.
Kaylea Bullock, Jr.
Sydney Anderson, Jr.
Gillian Pritt, Jr.
Lexi Campbell, So.
Vivian Long, So.
Bailey Elliott, So.
Bailey Young, So.
Katie Kottlowski, Fr.
Alaina Miller, Fr.
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For much more on the New Palestine Dragons’ historic championship win, see Pages B1 through B5.
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