JASPER – New Palestine came out swinging in the semistate championship game against Corydon Central on Saturday.
The Dragons jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning and put up another run each in the second and third, giving the defending state champions a 5-1 lead after three innings.
Macy Miller delivered the knockout blow in the fourth. With the bases loaded yet again for the Dragons in the fourth inning, Miller drilled a pitch over the center field fence for a grand slam and a 9-1 New Palestine lead.
Ashley Prange added an exclamation point of her own, breaking her own state record on the first pitch of the fifth inning, which she blasted over the fence for her record 68th RBI of the year. Prange added two more to that total, getting to 70 RBIs, in the sixth inning, and the Dragons went on to beat Corydon Central 12-1.
New Palestine had wasted no time asserting their offensive prowess against Corydon Central. Jaylin Calvert smacked the second pitch she saw for a single, Prange followed with a single of her own, and Emily O’Connor doubled to score Calvert and put two in scoring position with no outs.
Corydon Central had seen enough and made a pitching change just three batters into the game, bringing in Sydney Oskin to replace her sister, Kaleigh Oskin, on the mound.
A walk to Michaela Jones loaded the bases, and a sacrifice fly from Miller and a fielding error pushed the Dragons to an early 3-0 lead.
An incredible pair of throws limited potential damage in the bottom of the second inning for the Dragons. With runners on first and third and one out, Michaela Jones fired a laser to second to catch that runner trying to steal. Prange caught the ball, spun, and threw a perfect throw home to catch the runner from third.
One run got across for the Panthers in the inning, but the double play on the steal attempts preserved a 4-1 lead.
Mackenzie Jones got the win on the mound, going four innings and allowing three hits, one run with four strikeouts and three walks.
Miller and Prange led the way for the Dragons offense. Miller had four RBIs off the grand slam, while Prange went 4 for 4 with three runs scored and three RBIs.
New Palestine moves on to face South Bend St. Joseph at Purdue University in Saturday’s state championship game.