Staff Reports
NEW PALESTINE — Freshman Allie Blum provided the punch the Class 4A No. 6 New Palestine Dragons softball team needed on Wednesday night.
Blum blasted a three-run home run to fuel the Dragons’ decisive five-run bottom of the second inning to power New Palestine to a 5-4 victory over 4A No. 13 Avon.
Blum’s homer was the first hit out of the park at the Dragons’ newly opened softball diamond. It keyed a big second inning that erased an early 2-0 deficit and pushed the Dragons to a 5-2 lead.
The rally began with two outs and none on.
Aglaia Rudd and Vivian Long hit back-to-back singles ahead of Blum’s home run to centerfield. The Dragons followed by adding two more runs after Sydney Oliver was hit by a pitch and Kinsey Mitchell drew a walk. Both would score on an error that increased the lead to 5-2.
Avon answered with two runs in the top of the third, but the Dragons slammed the door from there.
Sam Booe allowed just one baserunner — a hit batter in the fourth — in five hitless innings of relief. She struck out eight batters to get the win.
The Dragons outhit Avon 8-4, with Rudd doubling twice and going 3-for-3. Long, Oliver, Mitchell and Miller all had singles.
Avon was led offensively by Makaela Penning, who finished 2-for-3 with two RBI, a double and a home run. Gracie Jacobs and Cassidy Hubner each recorded singles for the Orioles (3-1).
The Dragons are now 3-0 on the season. They next play today at 5:30 p.m. at Plainfield.
Cougars push win streak to five
The Greenfield-Central softball team posted its fourth straight run-rule victory and improved to a perfect 5-0 on the season with a 20-1 win over host Northeastern on Wednesday night.
The Cougars only needed five innings to win on the road, building a 20-0 advantage after four complete frames behind 24 total hits.
Junior Ellie Ewald led the Cougars with a 5-for-5 performance at the plate, including six RBI, two runs scored, a double and her second home run of the season.
Camille Burelison went 2-for-4 with four RBI, three runs, a double and a triple. Caroline Gibson blasted her first home run of the season, finishing 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored.
Lilly Stewart was 1-for-4 with three RBI and connected for one of the Cougars’ nine doubles.
Morgan Hornaday went 3-for-4 with a triple and an RBI.
G-C’s other doubles were credited to Ella Redmon (2-for-4, RBI) with a pair, Malloy Fultz (3-for-4), Olivia Roberts (3-for-4, RBI) and Megan Wineinger (2-for-3, RBI). Taylor Smith was 1-for-2 with a run scored.
Hannah Holden earned the win, pitching 5.0 innings with five strikeouts and two hits allowed.
The Cougars next host Wapahani tonight at 6 p.m.
Royals crush rival Panthers
The Class 2A No. 13 Eastern Hancock softball team took care of business in six innings on Wednesday night.
The host Royals jumped ahead 7-0 early and added four more runs in the bottom of the fifth and sixth to best rival Knightstown by run-rule 11-1.
Eastern Hancock (3-1) posted 10 hits to win its third straight, including five doubles.
Grace Stapleton finished 2-for-3 with two RBI and a double. Sydni Bednarski went 1-for-1 with two RBI, a double and a walk. Taylor Koch was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a double.
Caroline Stapleton went 2-for-4, Maddie Turner contributed an RBI, Kaylee Kline went 1-for-3 with a triple, Kaylee Stewart was 1-for-3 with a double and Emma Bolding went 1-for-3 with a double.
Baseball
Marauders complete HHC sweep
The Mt. Vernon baseball team won its fourth straight game, rallying past host Delta 9-6 to complete its two-game, Hoosier Heritage Conference sweep on Wednesday night.
The Marauders (5-1, 2-0 HHC) trailed 6-0 after three innings, but their white-hot offense charged back, plating three runs in the top of the fourth, fifth and seventh to win.
Mt. Vernon is now hitting .366 on the season with 67 runs scored in six games with 23 extra-base hits. Marauders’ pitching has allowed 35 runs through 38.0 innings played.
Against Delta (0-4, 0-4 HHC), senior Hunter Dobbins, a Prep Baseball Report Indiana Preseason All-State selection, went 2-for-3 with three RBI. The Ball State recruit clubbed his third home run on the season with a double.
He is currently hitting .875 on the year (14-for-16 with five doubles).
Jake Stank went 2-for-5 in the game with two runs scored and two RBI. Payton Bovard was 1-for-5 with an RBI, Landon Clark finished 2-for-5, Nate Weaver went 2-for-3 and AJ Swingle drew two walks and scored a pair of runs.
The Marauders worked Delta’s pitching staff for nine walks.
Swingle earned the win, pitching 6.0 innings with 13 strikeouts and six hits allowed.
The Marauders return home on Saturday for their own invitational, beginning at 11 a.m. against Indianapolis Scecina.
Royals cruise in season opener
The Eastern Hancock baseball team kicked off the 2021 season in dominating fashion, defeating visiting Anderson Prep Academy, 33-5, on Wednesday night.
The Jets grabbed a quick 1-0 lead after the top of the first inning, but the host Royals (1-0) went to work afterwards, establishing a 19-1 advantage by the top of the fourth.
A total of 10 Royals’ batters recorded at least one of the team’s 16 hits.
Drew White finished 2-for-3 with five runs scored and five RBI, including a triple and two of the Royals’ 22 walks.
Wyatt Sutton (1-for-1, three RBI) laced a triple, Cameron Wise (2-for-2, three RBI) had a double and Caden Hancock (1-for-1, three runs) lined the team’s other double.
Landon Stanley went 2-for-5 with three RBI, CJ Titara was 1-for-1 with four RBI, Brandon Ridgway finished 2-for-2 with four RBI, Reed Hedrick was 1-for-1 with an RBI and Griffin Brown was 3-for-5 with three RBI.
Logan Harman, Josh Hunt and Nash Hensley each drove in a run apiece.
Chris Craney picked up the win with 2.0 innings pitched and a strikeout. Hedrick went 3.0 innings with three strikeouts.
Tennis
Dragons fall in season opener
The New Palestine girls tennis team opened its season Wednesday against Whiteland, with the Dragons falling 5-0.
Olivia Hasenkamp played a competitive match at No. 1 singles but lost 6-3, 6-2.
At No. 2 singles, Courtney Johnson was also strong but dropped a 6-1, 6-3 decision. Lucy Miller fell 6-3, 6-2 at No. 3.
Both doubles teams also fell in straight sets.
