Base 4A SECT. 13: #11 New Palestine eliminates Franklin Community, 1-0

By Hancock County Sports

Class 4A 11th-ranked New Palestine beat Franklin Community, 1-0, on Memorial Day afternoon to win its Sectional 13 semifinal game at Whiteland.

Brian Page threw a complete-game shutout, allowing four hits in seven innings and striking out seven to improve his record to 7-0 on the season.

New Pal got all the offense it needed in the top of the first. Page drew a one-out walk, stole second, then scored on Connor Swain's two-out single to left, sliding under the tag at home to score the game's only run.

NP was held to three hits by Franklin ace Jeremy McKinney, who struck out 12 Dragons. Franklin had leadoff hits in the second, fourth, and fifth innings, but Page was able to pitch out of each jam.

The Dragons are now 22-6 and play Greenwood, a 13-3 winner over Franklin Central in the day's other semifinal, for the sectional championship tonight. You can catch that title tilt LIVE by clicking here for the live-stream webcast from Hancock County Sports!

At Pendleton Heights (4A Sectional 9): Class 4A Greenfield-Central fell to New Castle, 8-2, with NC pitcher (and Texas recruit) Trey Ball getting the win. G-C's John Scott and Brendon Neal hit back-to-back homers for the Cougars, but New Castle's four runs in the first inning sealed the game. New Castle will meet Anderson, a 5-4 upset semifinal winner over No. 9 host Pendleton Heights, in this evening's sectional final.

At Centerville (2A Sectional 41): Class 2A Eastern Hancock fell to 12th-ranked Union County, 16-5, in its Sectional 41 semifinal game. UC advances to meet Cambridge City Lincoln, a 5-3 semi upset winner over No. 8 Hagerstown, in tonight's sectional final.