Daily Reporter staff reports
The New Palestine baseball team had a big start and a big finish Wednesday, beating Knightstown 9-0.
New Palestine scored three first-inning runs to seize the lead. The Dragons used a five-run seventh buoyed by homers from Colby Jenkins and Jacob Garrison to break it open.
Three pitchers combined on a five-hit shutout, with Cameron Pitzer (2-0) throwing three hitless innings to start the game. Cameron Espich scattered four hits in three innings to hold the lead, while Joshua Jaques pitched the seventh.
The middle of the order provided an offensive spark for the Dragons. Jenkins reached base four times and scored three, including a double and a homer. Jack Walker had two doubles, while Jacob Garrison had a single, homer, two runs and three RBI.
It started in the top of the first, when Nick Rusche walked and Jenkins was hit by a pitch. They came home on back-to-back RBI hits from Garrison and Cameron Pitzer. Garrison would later make it 3-0 by scoring on a wild pitch. Back-to-back doubles by Jenkins and Walker plated another run in the fourth.
The Dragons broke it open in the seventh. Jenkins hit his fourth homer of the year with an opposite-field blast to right center. Walker followed with a hard-hit double to the gap, and Garrison greeted the Panthers’ third pitcher of the night by blasting his fifth homer of the season inside the rightfield foul pole. New Palestine added two more runs on a walk to Jacob Bain, an RBI double by Espich and a sacrifice fly by Tyler Young.
The Dragons finished with 10 hits. In addition to the six hits by the middle of the order, Pitzer and Espich each doubled, Bain had a single and Luke Greene a base hit.
The Class 4A No. 3 Dragons are now 13-0 on the season.
Greenfield-Central loses heartbreaker in 9 innings
Greenfield-Central traveled to Roncalli and lost a heartbreaker in 9 innings, falling 6-5.
Seth Robertson started for the Cougars and gave up four runs in 4 1/3 innings. The offense was led by Blake Wilson and Braxton Turner. Wilson hit his first home run of the year and Turner had two hits, including a triple, and two RBIs.
Softball
Cougars can’t overcome slow start against Tigers
Greenfield-Central gave up three runs in the first inning and couldn’t catch up from there, falling 13-6 to Yorktown on Wednesday.
A seven-run fifth inning by the Tigers broke things open after the Cougars cut the deficit to 3-2 in the fourth.
Lexi Rankin, Sam Kihega and Sydney Williams each had two hits for the Cougars. Rankin’s hits were both extra-base hits, as she hit a double and home run. Rankin and Williams each had a pair of RBIs in the loss.
Tennis
Greenfield-Central sweeps Knightstown
After a few close losses on the season, Greenfield-Central came out this week ready for a win. Against Knightstown on Wednesday they got their win, rolling to a 5-0 victory.
The Cougars only dropped a total of six games. Winners for the Cougars were Lindsey McCord at No. 1 singles, Avery Spencer at No. 2, Grace Hall at No. 3, and the No. 1 doubles team of Haidyn Goodwin and Kaleigh Stephenson and No. 2 team of Aly Proper and Erin Wright.
New Palestine’s depth dominates Beech Grove
The New Palestine girls defeated host Beech Grove 4-1 on Wednesday.
At No. 2 singles for the Dragons, senior Ivey Simmons proved too strong for Beech Grove freshman Paige Lamar, winning 6-0, 6-1.
Dragons No. 3 singles player, junior Caylie Almond fought back from an early deficit to close out her match 6-4, 6-0.
The Dragons No. 1 doubles pairing of juniors Josee King and Claire Cherry and No. 2 combination of junior Sheridan Schrowe and sophomore Ashley Truman each picked up wins.
New Palestine’s lone loss came at No. 1 singles, as sophomore Megan Long was beaten by Hornets senior Mariah Murdoch 6-3, 6-3.
Golf
New Palestine finishes third in tri-match
The New Palestine golf team played well Wednesday, shooting a 162, but falling to Whiteland and Triton Central in a three-way match at Dakota Landing.
Whiteland won with a 159, while TC shot 160 in a very close match.
Quinn Dobbins was the Dragons’ low medalist, shooting an even-par 35. Josh Shinkle and Peyton Miller each shot 41. Chris Guhl and A.J. Williams shot 45s.
“I knew the course we were playing had some quirky holes that could bite if you landed in the wrong area,” New Palestine coach Gregg Greene said. “Overall, we played well but still cost ourselves a chance to win with bad holes. Quinn’s even-par 35 was awesome.”
