Thursday NPHS wrap: T&Fand tennis sweep Rushville

Softball

Hamilton Southeastern 15, New Palestine 3: The Royals scored six unearned runs to build an 8-2 lead going into the final inning, then exploded for seven runs in the final inning to hand the seventh-ranked Dragons their second straight loss.

HSE got 13 hits and took advantage of seven walks/hit batsmen and four New Palestine errors. The Royals got going in the second when Amanda Wintrow hit a leadoff homer, and then HSE followed with five singles sandwiched around an error and an out, taking a 4-1 lead.

HSE added two more runs in each the fourth and fifth -- all unearned -- before a seven-run seventh capped by leadoff hitter Roni Patterson's 3-run homer.

NP was led by Audrey East, who hit her third homer of the season in the third. Alexa Cavin walked and scored on Julie Moore's single in the first. Rachel Vawter walked and scored on a fielder's choice in the seventh.

Wintrow struck out nine Dragons to get the win. HSE is now 7-1, NP 6-2. The Dragons next play Saturday in the Whiteland Tournament.

Track and field

Dragons sweep Rushville: New Palestine's boys beat Rushville 74-58. Dillon Pike was a four-event winner for NP, winning the high jump and 800 meters, and also the 4x800 and 4x400 relays. Zach Chester won the long jump and 100 and Ben Richter the 400 meters for the Dragons. Also winning were the 4x100 team of Chester, Chase Tuggle, Aaron Zych and Austin Timmerman, the 4x400 team of Pike, Richter, Sam Jones and Brian Wagner, and the 4x800 team that includes Pike and Richter.

The NP girls won all 16 events in a 115-17 victory over Rushville. Senior Corinne Zehner won the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles. Senior Sonya Napariu won both shot and discus, breaking her own school record in discus by throwing 136-9.5. Senior Nicole Fluegel won the 100 on senior night. But the freshmen had a big night on Senior Night, too. Rachel Wineman won the high jump and long jump. Marissa Crosby won the 800 in 2:36, and Faith Schonauer won teh 200 in 27.4 seconds. Junior Kenzi Hoffman beat teammate Michaela Merlau on a tiebreaker in the pole vault. Junior Emily Trimpe won the 3200, sophomore Natalie Shields the 1600. Lauren Joray won the 400, joining teammates Sydney Pennybaker and Jillian Brittain to sweep the top three positions.

NP swept the relays -- Caroline Voelz, Izzy Fleetwood, Shields and Joray won the 4x800 relay; Merlau, Fluegel, Lauren Kehrt and Zehner won the 4x100 relay and Carly Ingle, Kehrt, Fluegel and Zehner won the 4x400 relay to sweep the night.

Tennis

New Palestine 5, Rushville 0: The Dragons got another 5-0 victory, their second in as many matches this season.

NP got singles wins from Tanya Khokhar (6-0, 6-0), Jennifer Roberts (6-0, 6-2) and Kyler Litteral (6-0, 3-6, 6-1). Michaela Hurd/Emily Moeller (6-0, 6-4) and Abby Poole/Megan Beatty (6-3, 4-6, 6-1) won doubles matches.

NP's JV also won 12-3.

The Dragons next compete Friday at Franklin Central.

Golf

New Palestine 179, Knightstown 186: The Dragons got a win at Royal Hylands, led by Shane Catton's 42. Catton tied Knightstown's Clay Ratliff for low medalist honors.

Brady Elliott shot a 43 for NP. Aric Kotarski and Greydon Martin each shot 47.

"Good day overall to play on a nice but challenging course," NP coach Gregg Greene said. "Most of these guys had never played this course in competition so it was nice to get a win even when we don't play well."

The Dragons play Saturday at Hickory Stick in the Center Grove Invitational.

NP also defeated Warren Central 196-232 in a JV match. Matt Kreutzer shot 48 for the Dragons.