NEW CASTLE — The New Palestine Dragons erupted for nine runs early and cruised past Hoosier Heritage Conference foe New Castle on Tuesday, 11-1, in five innings.
The host Trojans scored one run in the bottom of the third to cut their deficit 10-1, but they were limited to six hits overall as the Class 4A No. 4 Dragons won their 14th straight game.
New Palestine (14-0) improved to 2-0 in the HHC, tallying 13 base hits behind four extra-base knocks to win.
Kinsey Mitchell finished 1-for-3 with a run scored, three RBI and a triple. Kendal Calvert was 2-for-3 with a double and two runs.
Katie Kottlowski (1-for-1, RBI) and Alexa Holman (1-for-4, RBI) both had doubles.
Reese Rosenbaum and Lexi Campbell (2-for-3) drove in a run apiece. Vivian Long went 1-for-2 with two RBI.
Alaina Miller was 1-for-2, Sydney Oliver was 1-for-1, Delaney Barton went 2-for-4 and Grace Paquette finished 1-for-3.
Holman earned the win, pitching 5.0 innings with six hits allowed, one earned run surrendered and nine strikeouts without a walk issued.
Marauders blank Bulldogs
The Mt. Vernon softball team picked up its second straight win, defeating visiting Lapel 5-0 on Tuesday.
The Marauders improved their season record to 11-2.
Maddie Taylor pitched a complete-game shutout, going 7.0 innings while scattering two hits with eight strikeouts. She didn’t issue a single walk.
The offense backed up Taylor with eight hits overall and a trio of home runs, including a pair from Macey Cox.
Haley Kissee added the third long ball, finishing 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBI and a run. Cox went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run.
Shelby Rakosky was 1-for-1 with an RBI. Drew Fithian, Riley Hasseld and Molly Buck each recorded a hit.
Cougars fall to Golden Bears
The Greenfield-Central Cougars dropped their first HHC game of the year Tuesday night, falling to 4A No. 10 Shelbyville, 17-4, in five innings.
The Cougars are now 10-3 on the season and 1-1 in the HHC.
The visiting Golden Bears (15-1, 5-0 HHC) led 13-1 before the Cougars clawed back with three runs in the bottom of the fourth.
Ella Redmon finished 2-for-3 for the Cougars with two RBI and a pair of home runs. Caroline Gibson hit the team’s third home run of the game and went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
Camille Burelison took the loss in the circle, and she drove in the team’s other run, drawing a walk.
Megan Wineinger was 3-for-3. Emmie Lamaster, Lilly Stewart and Mallorie Fultz each recorded a hit.
Tennis
Marauders defeat Tigers
The Mt. Vernon girls tennis team defeated host Alexandria 3-2 on Monday night to improve its season record to 7-0.
In their first match since winning a 10th straight Hancock County Tournament team championship, the Marauders claimed two points from their singles competitors and another at No. 1 doubles.
Carly Wilkerson scored a key point for the Marauders at No. 2 singles, prevailing 6-2, 6-3 to secure the team victory.
Lexi Shelton and Cici Buhlman battled at No. 1 doubles en route to a 6-3, 7-5 win.
Senior Lydia Ruegsegger continued her undefeated season with a 6-1, 7-6 (6) victory at No. 1 singles.
“Alexandria is a very solid, gritty and hard-nosed group. Matt Devault does a great job (coaching) there and had his group ready to play,” Mt. Vernon head coach Gabe Muterspaugh said. “Extremely proud of this team on a day we didn’t play our best at all. Carly is becoming a bulldog and learning how to win at this level. Huge wins by our one singles Ruegsegger and one doubles ‘Thunder Sisters.’”
Baseball
Dragons handles Danville
The New Palestine baseball team snapped a four-game skid Monday, with four crooked numbers on the scoreboard in an 11-7 home victory over Danville.
Zayden Stiller and Maddox Manes had two hits each to lead a nine-hit attack. The Dragons showed strong depth as 6-7-8 hitters Eli Bruns, Wes Stiller and Caleb Davis each drove in two runs.
Tate Hackler got the win on the mound, allowing five hits and striking out seven in 5.1 innings. Reise Quillen finished the game with 1.2 innings of scoreless relief.
The Dragons are now 5-7 on the season.
Marauders fall to Anderson
The Mt. Vernon Marauders lost on the road Monday night, 8-5, against Anderson.
The visiting Marauders led 2-0 after the top of the first inning before Anderson charged back to go up 4-2 in the bottom half.
Mt. Vernon grabbed a 5-4 advantage in the third before Anderson posted back-to-back two-run frames in the fifth and sixth to snap the Marauders’ two-game winning streak.
Seniors Joel Walton (2-for-3) and Hunter Dobbins (1-for-2) both drove in two runs, while senior Jake Stank finished 1-for-4 with an RBI. Dobbins hit his sixth home run of the season and now carrying a .639 batting average with 22 RBI.
Landon Clark went 2-for-3 with two runs and a double. Carson Augustinovicz (1-for-2) had a double. Eli Bridenthal was 1-for-3.
Walton absorbed the loss on the mound, pitching 4.1 innings with two walks, five hits allowed and seven strikeouts.
Golf
Dragons beat Greenwood Christian
The New Palestine golf team won a close decision 175-176 Monday at Greenwood Christian.
Matt Barada was medalist with a 40. Evan Griffith shot 44, Sammy Chifalo 45 and Braeden Baker 46. Alex Cofer was the fifth score with a 48.
The Dragons are back in action Thursday at Beech Grove.
