New Palestine High School

Bases loaded, one out in a tie game. Callie Cromwell stepped to the plate needing to just get the ball into play to help deliver the New Palestine softball team a victory. She did just that, lacing the second pitch she saw into centerfield for a base hit, plating Katie Hirschy with the winning run as the Class 3A No. 2 Dragons beat Carmel 4-3 in nine innings. Hirschy led off the decisive inning with a single. After a flyout, Kenna Tweedy followed with a double to put runners on second and third. Carmel intentionally walked Kylee Beranek to load the bases and create a potential forceout at any base, bringing Cromwell to the plate. After taking a ball, she delivered the game-winning hit. The Dragons had opportunities to win. They had two runners on in the sixth. In the seventh, they had two runners on with none out in the seventh, but a doubleplay and a popout ended the threat. They also had two on with one out in the eighth, but the Greyhounds again wiggled out of the frame. The Dragons had traffic throughout the game. After leaving the bases loaded in the first, they broke through in the third, loading the bases on consecutive singles by Maddie Engle, Payton Dye and Hirschy. A throwing error brought Engle home. Beranek then followed with a two-out, two-run single to put the Dragons up 3-0. Carmel drew two runs back in the fourth, taking advantage of a single, a walk and a two-run triple. With the tying run on third, Sadey Hughbanks came on in relief and ended the threat with a strikeout. Carmel did tie the game in the top of the sixth with a two-out rally, putting two runners on and delivering a two-out single. Hughbanks nailed down the rest of the game. She retired the last 10 batters she faced, setting the Greyhounds down in order in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings. She earned the win with 5 1/3 innings of relief, striking out 11 atters and scattering three hits and one earned run. Tessa Mohr started the game and allowed two hits and two earned runs in 3 2/3 innings. The Dragons outhit Carmel 14-5. Hirschy was 3-for-5 with a double and two runs. Tweedy was 2-for-5 with a double. Catherine Trebley was 2-for-2. Engle was 2-for-3 with a run. Dye was 2-for-5 with a run. Jersi Gross was 1-for-5. Beranek was 1-for-4 with two RBI. Cromwell was 1-for-4 with an RBI. The Dragons are now 7-0 on the season. They next play Saturday at home against East Central.