New Palestine High School

Kenna Tweedy hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning, leading the New Palestine softball team to a come-from-behind 4-3 victory over Center Grove. Kylee Beranek led off the sixth with a double to put the tying run in scoring position. After a popout, Tweedy worked the count to 3-1 before blasting a pitch onto the berm beyond the centerfield fence for her first homer of the year. It turned out to be the winning margin, as Sadey Hughbanks nailed down the game in the seventh, inducing two groundouts after surrendering a one-out single. The Dragons built an early 2-0 lead when Jersi Gross walked to lead off the first. She scored on Katie Hirschy's double to center. A single by Maddie Engle and a walk to Saydie Miller loaded the bases. Beranek grounded into a fielder's choice to bring in the second run. The lead was short-lived, as CG tied the game in the top of the second, scoring two runs on three hits. Both teams left two runners on base in the third. The Trojans took the lead on an unearned run in the fifth on a bunt single, error and RBI groundout. The Dragons had nine hits in the contest. Hirschy was 2-for-4 with a double, a run and an RBI. Payton Dye was also 2-for-4. Gross was 1-for-3 with a run. Engle and Catherine Trebley were each 1-for-3. Beranek was 1-for-3 with a double, a run and an RBI. Tweedy was 1-for-3 with a two-run homer. Hughbanks earned the complete-game win, allowing two earned runs and seven hits. She struck out five. The Dragons, ranked No. 1 in Class 3A, posted their second victory in three days over a top-five 4A team. Center Grove entered the game ranked No. 2. Earlier in the week, the Dragons beat No. 5 Noblesville. The Dragons have now beaten five of the 10 teams currently ranked in the 4A Top 10, and also have won rematches with all three teams they played in the semistate and State Finals last season. The Dragons are now 12-1 on the season. They next play Thursday at home against Shelbyville. NewPalRadio.com will broadcast the game.