Limo in Beech Grove, IN

NEW PALESTINE — The hopes for another long postseason run got off to a good start.

Ranked No. 2 in Class 3A New Palestine’s softball team — state runner-up in 4A in 2024 — pounded out 17 hits, seven for extra bases, in a 13-1 victory against Beech Grove (12-14-1) in a quarterfinal game of Class 3A Sectional 28 at New Palestine High School Monday morning.

Katie Hirschy got it started with a liner over the right-centerfield fence to give New Palestine (23-4) a 1-0 first-inning lead.

It was the beginning of her 4-for-4 day, which included a double, two RBI and three runs scored.

“That gets us going,” New Palestine head coach Ed Marcum said. “Katie, to come through there and get that home run and get us on the board in the first inning, was big. She had great at-bats. You do that in the beginning, they are going to back up and play on the fence. Then, she had a couple that she didn’t hit as well, and the ball dropped in because of that.”

In the second, after Kenna Tweedy reached on an error, Kylee Beranek singled. Both scored on Saydie Miller’s double to centerfield. Miller scored on a single to leftfield by Payton Dye, who went to second on the throw to home plate. Hirschy’s second hit of the game, a single, scored Dye to give New Palestine a 5-0 lead.

In the fourth, two more runs came across. Dye was hit by a pitch and moved to third on Hirschy’s double to rightfield. A sacrifice fly from Maddie Engle scored Dye. Hirschy came across on a single to rightfield by Amber Hurt.

To begin the fifth, Beranek, who went 3-for-3, got her second double of the game. Pinch-runner Lauren Wagoner later scored on a groundball off the bat of Lindsay Goodin.

With a combination of starters and subs getting seventh-inning swings, the Dragons scored five more times. New Palestine had six hits in the inning, getting one each from Cat Trebley, Jersi Gross, Dye, Hirschy, Callie Cromwell and Cara Steele. Gross hit an RBI-triple and Dye had an RBI on a ground rule-double.

It could have been more.

The Dragons struck out only one time. They hit some hard balls right at the Beech Grove defense, and a couple of well-hit balls in the outfield were held in play by the wind. They also left 10 runners on base.

“We left a lot of people on base,” Marcum said. “It’s good to get them on, but we have to be able to drive them in to finish the game earlier, but I’m really happy with the way things went. We got a lot of people in the game and tried some different things. You never know when you’re going to need them.”

It was all plenty for pitcher Sadey Hughbanks.

After giving up a first-inning run, she went on a stretch of eight consecutive strikeouts. Hughbanks finished with 12 Ks. Tweedy pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning, which included one strikeout.

“She dominated,” Marcum added on Hughbanks. “She had a good game and did a really nice job. It’s probably the best she’s thrown in the last couple of weeks and that was good to see.”

New Palestine (23-4) plays Greenwood (6-20) in a semifinal game Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. The second semifinal has No. 14 Indian Creek taking on No. 4 Roncalli. It is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m.

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New Palestine 13, Beech Grove 1

New Palestine (23-4);140;210;5;—;13;17;0

Beech Grove (12-14-1);100;000;0;—;1;4;4

Sadey Hughbanks, Kenna Tweedy (7) and Cat Trebley; Nola Alford, Kyrah Pierle (2) and Jalyn Jordan. 2B: NP – Kylee Beranek 2, Saydie Miller, Katie Hirschy, Payton Dye. 3B: NP – Jersi Gross. HR: NP – Hirschy (10). WP: Hughbanks (21-4). LP: Alford (3-4).

The Beech Grove Hornets will head out to face off against the Christel House Eagles at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Beech Grove is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.4 runs per game this season.

On Monday, Beech Grove didn't have quite enough to beat Indianapolis Bishop Chatard and fell 4-3. The Hornets have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.

Addison Corn made the most of her time at bat despite the final result and went 1-for-3 with one home run.

Meanwhile, Christel House waltzed into their matchup on Thursday with three straight wins... but they left with four. They walked away with a 6-1 win over the Lions.

Allie Schultz spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered a run (which was unearned) on one hit and racked up 15 Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than nine strikeouts in three consecutive appearances.

On the hitting side, Alyssa Schultz was incredible, going 3-for-4 with one home run, two runs, and two RBI. She is on a roll when it comes to home runs, as she's now launched at least one in each of the last three games she's played. Odalis Valerio was another key player, getting on base in all four of her plate appearances with one run and one RBI.

Christel House's victory was their fifth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 12-3. Those home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.8 runs on average over those games. As for Beech Grove, their defeat dropped their record down to 11-13-1.

The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Tuesday as neither team is afraid to steal. Beech Grove has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.3 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Christel House struggles in that department as they've been averaging 2.7 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more. Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other softball content.

Beech Grove extended their losing streak to three on Saturday, dropping their season record down to 10-12-1 in the process. They came up short against the Tri-West Hendricks Bruins, falling 12-6. If the Hornets were looking for revenge after losing 8-1 to the Bruins when the teams met back in June of 2023, then they'll just have to keep looking.

Mylee Boling was cooking despite her team's loss, going 2-for-4 with three stolen bases, one run, and one RBI. She has been hot recently, having posted at least one stolen base the last three times she's played. Jaiden Hawley was another key player, going 1-for-2 with one run, one double, and one RBI.

As for Tri-West Hendricks, the victory made it two in a row for them and bumps their season record up to 13-11. With that win, they brought their scoring average up to 6.2 runs per game.

On Tri-West Hendricks' side, Natalie Tharp spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned (and three unearned) runs on eight hits and racked up ten Ks.

At the plate, Kacee Trivett and Peyton Norman did most of the damage at the plate: Trivett got on base in three of her four plate appearances with one home run, three RBI, and two runs, while Norman went 3-for-4 with four RBI, one stolen base, and one run. Those three RBI gave Trivett a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Emma Charles, who went 2-for-3 with two RBI, one run, and one double.

Looking ahead, Beech Grove will take on Indianapolis Bishop Chatard at 5:30 p.m. on Monday. As for Tri-West Hendricks, they will head out to challenge North Montgomery at 6:00 p.m. on Monday. The Chargin' Chargers have struggled to contain batters this season (they've allowed 6.79 runs per game on average), something the Bruins will no doubt try to take advantage of.

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Previous Games

After having lost a blowout in their previous game against Speedway, Beech Grove was happy to have turned things around on Friday. They blew past the Indianapolis Arsenal Technical Titans 8-2. The win continues a trend for the Hornets in their matchups with the Titans: they've now won eight in a row.

Aiden Brown was excellent, going a perfect 1-for-1 with one stolen base, two RBI, and one run. That's the most RBI he has posted since back in May of 2024.

Beech Grove was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .429. They are a perfect 3-0 when they post a batting average of .375 or better.

Beech Grove's victory bumped their record up to 5-17. As for Indianapolis Arsenal Technical, they have traveled a rocky road recently, having lost seven of their last eight matches. That's put a noticeable dent in their 4-10 record this season.

Beech Grove will square off against Jennings County at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. The Hornets are facing the Panthers at the right time seeing as the Panthers are stuck on a four-game losing streak. As for Indianapolis Arsenal Technical, they will take on Indianapolis Scecina Memorial at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday.