WEST LAFAYETTE — It wasn’t the way they normally win, but in the end it didn’t matter.
They are champions again.
With a dominant pitching performance and strong defense, the New Palestine Dragons once again claimed a state championship Saturday, winning 3-1 against South Bend St. Joseph in the Class 3A finale at Purdue University’s Bittinger Stadium.
It’s a win that caps an incredible two-year run for the Dragons, who have compiled a staggering 61-3 record in their back-to-back state title runs.
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Click here to purchase photos from this gallery“It’s just consistency,” New Palestine coach Ed Marcum said. “It’s just remarkable for the program and to do it here at Purdue, in this stadium, these girls are certainly deserving.”
South Bend St. Joseph did what most teams can’t do against New Palestine — they kept the Dragons’ bats mostly in check. New Palestine had only been held below six runs once this season, its lone loss against Center Grove.
The Indians boasted a first-team all-state pitcher in Lauren Sandor, who allowed eight hits while striking out five and walking two.
She was out-dueled on the mound by New Palestine senior Mackenzie Jones, who struck out a career-high-tying seven batters and allowed just the one run and five hits. She finishes her career with a 31-1 record as a starter.
“She pitched a great game,” first baseman Rieley Widmann said. “I knew she was going to come out and pitch lights out. But she pitched even better than lights out. She was amazing.”
The Indians had gotten on the board first, pushing across a run in the top of the third inning after a two-out single, a wild pitch and a single from catcher Megan Welsh.
Then, the Indians did something not many teams can get away with against the Dragons. They made a mistake.
After a leadoff single by TeTe Hart, the Dragons’ second hit of the game to that point, an error on a fly ball to left field allowed Hart to reach third and Jaylin Calvert to reach second.
Ashley Prange was intentionally walked to load the bases with no outs, and Emily O’Connor singled to bring in the tying run for New Palestine.
The final piece of the state-championship puzzle was hammered home by sophomore catcher Michaela Jones.
The catcher blasted a pitch that hit the top of the center field wall, 220 feet from home plate, driving in two runs and giving the Dragons all the lead they would need.
“Mic came through. I think she missed a grand slam by about two inches there to deep center,” Marcum said. “I was already jumping because I thought the ball was gone.”
Michaela Jones also thought the ball was leaving the park. In any high school stadium, it would have.
The fact that it stayed in didn’t matter. The double got the job done.
“It honestly just felt great,” Michaela Jones said. “I thought it was over but it felt amazing to know that my hard work paid off.”
She finished the day 3-for-3 at the plate, with the two RBI-double serving as the winning runs in the Dragons’ fifth state championship.
With the win, Marcum moves into a tie for first place with the most softball state championships as a coach in IHSAA history. The Dragons are now one title behind Center Grove for the team record.
There was one more piece of hardware for the Dragons to achieve Saturday. Their star shortstop, Prange, was named the IHSAA’s Mental Attitude Award recipient, another in a long list of accolades for the Ohio State-bound senior.
“I had no idea that was coming, so that’s pretty cool,” Prange said. “I’m proud of it, but I’m more proud of the team and seeing us win because it’s exactly what I wanted from the start.
“I can’t even put it into words. It’s so awesome and so special to win with this team because we’re all so close. I’m sad to see it end, but I wouldn’t want it to end any other way.”
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Read more about the Dragons’ Class 3A state softball championship win, and see photos from Saturday’s game, inside: Pages B1-B3.
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