New Palestine High School

Gavin Neal's second-inning grand slam capped a six-run inning and put the New Palestine baseball team in command Friday in a 9-1 home victory over Danville. Neal's blast to left finished off the frame, which gave the Dragons a 6-0 lead they'd never relinquish in their second straight victory, improving the team's record to 5-3. The Dragons' patience at the plate paid off, as they tallied their nine runs on five hits, but drew nine walks. Sophomore Rigby Gross - in his first varsity start - pitched around singles in each of the first two innings but kept the Warriors scoreless, setting the stage for the Dragons to explode in the third. They loaded the bases on walks to Liam Atkinson and Eli Whiteside, sandwiched around a base hit by Marshall Giant. Mason Monnier drove in the first run with a single to left. Max Newkirk then forced in a run with a bases-loaded walk on a full count. Neal then stepped up and hit the first pitch he saw over the leftfield fence for a grand slam. The Dragons had baserunners in each of the next two innings, but added two more in the fifth, as Jacob Morris led off with a single, moved to third base and scored on a double-steal after Marshall Giant walked. Giant later scored on an error to make it 8-0. Danville, which had baserunners in every inning, scored on a walk, single and error in the sixth. The Dragons answered in the bottom of the inning after Colin Workman walked and later scored on the front half of a double-steal attempt. The Dragons had five hits. Neal was 1-for-4 with a grand slam. Morris was 1-for-4 with a run. Giant was 1-for-2 with a walk and two runs. Whiteside was 1-for-2 with a run. Monnier was 1-for-1 with a run and an RBI. Gross earned the win, allowing five hits and striking out four in four scoreless innings, with no walks. Keegan Fritts struck out two in a scoreless fifth. J.P. Brundage allowed two hits, a run and struck out one in the sixth. Ajay Kropp nailed the game down, striking out one in the seventh. The Dragons are next in action Monday at Whiteland.