New Palestine head coach Ed Marcum, left, talks with Alexa Holman late in the game against Eastern Hancock on Monday, March 21, 2022.
NEW PALESTINE — The Class 4A third-ranked New Palestine softball team simply refuses to lose.
The Dragons (7-0-1) hosted Zionsville on Friday night, and they wasted little time, building an early 5-0 lead in the first inning en route to a 10-0 victory in six innings. The win marked New Palestine seventh straight since opening the season with a 5-5 tie against 2A No. 9 Eastern Hancock on March 21.
The run-rule victory featured six extra-base hits for the Dragons, including home runs by Allie Blum, Aglaia Rudd and Alexa Holman.
Rudd was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate, finishing with a pair of doubles to go with her homer and two RBI.
Alaina Miller added another double and went 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
Blum (1-for-3) drove in two runs, Alyssa Mumaw had an RBI and Grace Paquette (2-for-3) had two RBI and a stolen base.
Holman went 3-for-4 with three RBI, and she picked up the pitching win. The senior threw three one-hit innings with no walks and six strikeouts.
Katie Kottlowski pitched three one-hit frames of her own, striking out three and walking none. The duo faced 21 batters overall.
The Dragons travel to Seymour today for a Saturday doubleheader. They face Decatur Central at 12:30 p.m. before taking on host Seymour at 2 p.m. They travel to 4A seventh-ranked Noblesville on Monday.
Cougars win two in a row
The Greenfield-Central softball team extended its winning streak to two straight with a 16-5 run-rule victory over host Indianapolis Lutheran on Friday night.
The visiting Cougars grabbed a 3-0 lead after the first inning and later trailed 5-3 before erupting for a six-run top of the fourth to jump ahead 9-5.
A seven-run top of the sixth put the game away for the Cougars, who are now 6-3 on the season.
Greenfield-Central logged 13 hits, including three extra-base knocks to upend the Saints.
Lilly Stewart finished 2-for-4 with a run scored, a home run and four RBI.
Olivia Roberts (3-for-4, two RBI) and Ella Redman (1-for-4, three RBI) both connected for doubles. The duo combined for five runs scored.
Makenna Rankins had an RBI, while Megan Wineiner (3-for-4) and Addison Herrin (2-for-4) each drove in two runs.
Josie White finished 2-for-4 with three runs scored.
Faith Butler earned the pitching win, going six strong innings with five hits surrendered, three walks and two strikeouts.
The Cougars travel to Hoosier Heritage Conference foe Delta on Tuesday.
Track and Field
Dragons take second at invite
The New Palestine boys track and field team finished second at the Pendleton Heights Invitational on Thursday.
Isaiah Thacker won two events to lead the Dragons with victories in the 100-meter dash (11.21 seconds) and the 200 (23.02). He also finished second in the long jump (21-feet, 2-inches).
The Dragons tallied 93 points, second in the nine-team event to Mt. Vernon (188). The Dragons finished ahead of Yorktown (89), Roncalli (86.5), Greenfield-Central (61) and four other teams.
The Dragons also had runners-up in the 800-meter run, where Connor Lapenta ran 2:05.9, and the pole vault, where Sage Halter vaulted 13-6. Halter’s vault was the third-best mark in school history.
Cody Crawmer, Jaret Whitaker, Colin Darley and Lapenta were second in the 4×800 relay (8:23.86). The Dragons were also second in the 4×400 relay (3:40.36).
Darley was fourth in the 1,600-meter run. Jack Rossell was also fourth in the pole vault. Josh Lambdin was fourth in discus. Greg Ratz was fifth in shot put.
James O’Dell was sixth in the 300 hurdles. Finishing seventh were Whitaker in the 400, O’Dell in the 110 hurdles, Ian Moore in shot put and Thomas in the long jump. Placing eighth were Madix Johnson in the 200, Danny Davis in the 800 and A.J. Reierson in the 300 hurdles.
Baseball
Cougars fall to Cardinals
The Greenfield-Central baseball team lost 4-1 to host Southport on Friday night. The loss drops the Cougars season record to 4-7 and marks their fourth straight.
The two teams battle through a three-inning, scoreless tie until the Cardinals plated three runs in the bottom of the fourth and led 4-0 after five frames.
The Cougars finished with six hits from six different players. Grant Shepherd (1-for-3) recorded a double. Other Cougars with hits included: Zach Austin, Brodie Mayberry, Corbin Tilley, Jaden Markus and Jaden McGee.
Markus pitched three frames for the Cougars without allowing a hit. He walked one and struck out six. Luke Willett went one inning with one hit surrendered and two strikeouts. Lane Wadle had one strikeout, two walks and three hits given up in one inning.
The Cougars travel to HHC foe New Palestine on Tuesday to begin a two-game series that concludes at Greenfield-Central on Wednesday.
