New Palestine High School

A seven-run fourth inning powered the New Palestine softball team to an 8-1 victory Friday against Plainfield in the Dragons' home opener. The Dragons improved to 3-0 with the victory. The offense was spread out, as they combined for nine hits on the day. The Dragons quickly fell behind, as a leadoff walk, stolen base, fielding error and RBI groundout gave Plainfield a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. The Dragons responded in the second. With one out, Lyndsay Goodin hit a sinking liner to left, which skipped to the fence for a triple. Courtesy runner Morgan Hutchinson would later score on a wild pitch. In the third, two singles put two runners on for the Dragons, but two groundouts to the left side ended the threat and kept the game 1-1. The Dragons finally broke through in the fourth, as they plated seven runs and the first nine batters reached in the inning. Goodin and Sadey Hughbanks led off with singles. Cara Steele followed with a two-run triple that put the Dragons up 3-1, and she then scored on Tessa Mohr's line-drive single up the middle. Plainfield changed pitchers, but its reliever struggled with her command. She loaded the bases with a hit batter and a walk. Amber Hurt, Claire Fitzgerald and Kenna Tweedy all drew bases-loaded walks to force in runs. After Plainfield put its starter back in the circle, a doubleplay and sharp lineout ended the treat without further scoring. The Dragons' pitchers combined to allow three hits. Hughbanks allowed two hits and struck out five in four innings to earn the win. Cailyn Hurst and Ava Lapenta pitched three innings of scoreless relief. Payton Dye (2-3, run), Hurt (2-3, run, RBI) and Goodin (2-4, triple) had multi-hit games for the Dragons. Hughbanks was 1-2. Steele was 1-3 with a triple, run and two RBI. Mohr was 1-2 with a run and an RBI. The Dragons begin a busy five games in five days stretch Tuesday at home against Eastern Hancock.