DR | Softball State Champs

— 2017 —

new palestine

Dragons_ IHSAA 3A Softball

State Champions

By rich torres Photography by tom russo

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T a season

to remember dragons shatter record book en route to championship glory

4

New Palestine softball State Champions

The state’s record book never stood a chance. Neither did their opponents.

Built to win from top to bottom, the New Palestine Dragons had all the right pieces fall in place for a special season, but not even head coach Ed Marcum and his assistant coaches could imagine what would unfold.

Conducting their traditional record-setting meeting in the preseason, New Palestine assistant coach Michelle (Marcum) Hokl used one word to describe the 2017 Dragons’ unprecedented production — “shattered.”

The Dragons didn’t just meet expectations; they crushed them. New Palestine won a school-record 31 games with only two losses, broke the program’s previous mark in batting average with a .437 clip and tied the team’s best previous showing with 83 doubles.

Five team state records fell in their Class 3A championship wake, including most home runs in a single season (57), runs batted in (355), runs scored (383), hits (465) and at-bats (1,064).

The Dragons put together the longest single-season win streak in program history at 23 straight and breezed past three 3A state championship records for hits (17), runs (13) and runs batted in (10) en route to the school’s fourth softball state title.

The team’s chemistry was ego-free, a tone set by the Dragons’ five senior leaders, who played perfectly as junior Ashley Prange set two individual state records for home runs (21) and runs batted in (67) in a single season.

Sophomore Emily O’Connor’s 59 RBIs and 14 home runs supplied the Dragons with two legitimate threats while senior Elisha Barker attacked with calculated intent as the team’s ace.

The Dragons’ journey was highlighted by the longball — 15 in the state tournament alone — and 21 games total with doubledigit runs scored.

After his Dragons defeated Kankakee Valley 13-6 for the 3A crown at Ben Davis on June 10, Marcum heard talk about how his team could go down as the best-hitting group in state history.

One thing is for sure; the numbers won’t soon be forgotten — they’re part of history.

New Palestine Sectional

New Palestine Regional

May 22, 2017

May 30, 2017

Opening Round

Regional Championship

New Palestine 27, Herron 0, 5 innings

New Palestine 8, Lebanon 1

The top-ranked New Palestine Dragons faced minimal resistance in the Class 3A Sectional 26 opener. The Dragons scored 11 runs in the first inning and added a seven-run top of the second before finishing with a season-high 27 runs and 26 hits.

Madison Whitaker, Ashley Prange and Emily O’Connor each had three hits. O’Connor went 3-for-3 with a grand slam, a double and six RBIs. Abby Davis and Tianna Hart both had doubles in the lopsided win.

Prange laced her lone triple of the season, and the Dragons’ pitching staff, led by junior Mackenzie Jones, limited Herron to one hit.

The top-ranked New Palestine Dragons were in their element. Upbeat, loose and at home for their highly anticipated rematch of last year’s regional championship.

A 1-0 lead grew to an 8-0 advantage as New Palestine ousted the defending Class 3A champion Tigers behind 11 hits and a pair of key home runs.

Freshman catcher Michaela Jones blasted a leadoff solo home run in the bottom of the second to put the Dragons up 2-0, and sophomore Emily O’Connor hit her 14th of the season in the fourth.

The duo’s big blasts pushed the Dragons’ home run total over the 50 plateau and tamed top-flight Lebanon freshman ace Abigail McPherson.

With a 20-4 record prior to the regional, McPherson mowed down 169 batters in 139.1 innings pitched.

Against the Dragons, she didn’t record a single strikeout.

The Dragons lost to Lebanon 7-1 in 2016, and they returned the favor to seize their eighth regional championship. O’Connor drove in five runs, finishing 3-for-4.

Prange was 3-for-3 with two doubles.

Elisha Barker went the distance, striking out four to pick up her 19th win and the team’s 20th consecutive.

New Palestine (25-2) (11)70 18 — 27 26 0 Herron (9-8) 000 00 — 0 1 8 WP: Mackenzie Jones LP: Kaitlyn Ladd HR: Emily O’Connor (NP). 3B: Ashley Prange (NP) 2B: O’Connor, Abby Davis, Tianna Hart (NP); Kaitlyn Ladd (H).

Notable: O’Connor 3-3, GS, 6 RBI. May 25, 2017

Sectional Semifinal New Palestine 11, Bishop Chatard 6 Postponed a day because of rain, the New Palestine Dragons finally took their home field 24 hours later for their Sectional 26 semifinal matchup against Bishop Chatard, needing to win two games in one night to clinch the title.

Initially, the Dragons looked primed to win their 18th straight game easily, grabbing a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning with a two-run home run from Emily O’Connor. But the bats fell silent momentarily over the next three innings as Bishop Chatard tied it up 2-all.

New Palestine broke the game open for good with a nine-run bottom of the fifth, highlighted by a grand slam from Ashley Prange.

A two-run home run by Madison Whitaker kept the rally going, and Prange drove in her fifth run in the frame with a double. Emma Tucher drove in a pair.

Bishop Chatard (14-12-1) 000 114 0 — 6 11 2 New Palestine (26-2) 200 090 x — 11 12 4 WP: Elisha Barker LP: Sarah Mastrian HR: Emily O’Connor, Ashley Prange, Madison Whitaker (NP).

2B: Prange (NP), Dee Dee Caskey (BC).

Notables: Christine Oppold 3-4, RBI, Cierra Landers 2-2, RBI, Reagon Whillhoite 1-4, RBI, Mastrian 3-4, RBI (BC); Abby Davis 2-3, 3 runs, Prange 2-4, GS, 5 RBIs, GS, O’Connor 2-4, 2 RBIs, Whitaker 2-4, 2 RBI, Emma Tucher 1-3, 2 RBIs, Tatum Biddle 2-3 (NP).

Ashley Prange throws to first base for the out during their sectional final game against Brebeuf Jesuit.

May 25, 2017

Sectional Championship New Palestine 19, Brebeuf 0, 5 innings One win away from the program’s 12th sectional title all time and second straight, the New Palestine Dragons went to work from the first inning.

An RBI sacrifice fly by Madison Whitaker and an RBI single by Elisha Barker put the first two runs on the board. The Dragons added five more in the second inning with an RBI single by Abby Davis, a two-run double from Whitaker and a two-run bomb by Barker.

The Dragons nearly hit around the order twice in the third, bombarding the Braves with 11 hits and 11 runs, including Ashley Prange’s second grand slam on the day.

Prange drove in the final run in the top of the fifth to finish 4-for-5 with five RBIs, giving her 10 combined in back-to-back games. Freshman Michaela Jones added a three-run home run as the Dragons posted 21 hits.

The duo of Mackenzie Jones and Barker teamed to one-hit Brebeuf Jesuit and secure the Dragons’ 19th straight victory.

Brebeuf Jesuit (1-13) 000 00x x — 0 1 3 New Palestine (27-2) 25(11) 1xx x — 19 21 0 WP: Mackenzie Jones LP: Jocelyn Swan HR: Elisha Barker, Ashley Prange, Michaela Jones (NP).

2B: Emily O’Connor, Madison Whitaker, Elisha Barker (NP).

Notables: Abby Davis 4-4, 3 RBI, Ashley Prange 4-5, 5 RBI, GS, Emily O’Connor 3-5, Madison Whitaker 1-3, 3 RBI, Barker 2-2, 3 RBI, Mi. Jones 1-3, 3 RBI, Kaylee Kropp 2-2, RBI (NP).

Lebanon (21-5) 000 001 0 — 1 6 1 New Palestine (28-2) 140 300 x — 8 11 1 WP: Elisha Barker LP: Abigail McPherson HR: Emily O’Connor, Michaela Jones (NP). 2B: Ashley Prange 2 (NP), Payten Redman (L).

Notables: Brooke Montgomery 2-4 (L); Abby Davis 2-4, 2 runs, Prange 3-3, 3 runs, RBI, O’Connor 3-4, 5 RBI, Mi. Jones 1-3, RBI, Emma Tucher 1-3, Mary Crumlin 1-3, Barker 7.0 IP, 6 H, BB, 4 K (NP).

Mary Crumlin, left, and Abigail Davis celebrate after defeating Lebanon in the Regional Championship.

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5

Jasper Semistate

State Finals

June 3, 2017

June 10, 2017

Semistate Semifinal

At Ben Davis High School

New Palestine 16, Edgewood 0, 5 innings The New Palestine Dragons were all business in Jasper. Making the 132-mile bus trip the day before, the players were well-rested for their afternoon semifinal, and it showed as they posted their third run-rule win of the state tournament.

The Dragons batted through the order in the bottom of the first and plated six runs, powered by a three-run home run from senior first baseman Mary Crumlin.

Emily O’Connor, who had three RBIs, knocked in the first run of the game with a one-out double, and Elisha Barker and Michaela Jones followed with a runscoring single and double.

A two-run single by Madison Whitaker put the Dragons ahead 8-0 as every starter recorded at least one of the team’s 18 hits.

Crumlin drove in four runs. O’Connor, Whitaker and Abby Davis had three hits each, while Barker and Mackenzie Jones combined for a two-hit shutout.

Edgewood (18-9) 000 00 — 0 2 1 New Palestine (29-2) 622 6x — 16 18 0 WP: Elisha Baker LP: Payton Acuff HR: Mary Crumlin (NP). 2B: Abby Davis, Emily O’Connor 2, Michaela Jones, Emma Tucher (NP).

Notables: Davis 3-4, RBI, O’Connor 3-4, 3 RBI, Madison Whitaker 3-4, 2 RBI, Barker 1-2, RBI, 4.0 IP, 2 H, 3 K, Mi. Jones 2-3, RBI, Crumlin 2-3, 4 RBI, Tucher 2-3, RBI, Mackenzie Jones 0-1, 2 RBI (NP).

June 3, 2017

Semistate Championship New Palestine 10, Evansville Memorial 1 A victory away from their first state championship game berth in eight years, the New Palestine Dragons went deep and often.

The lineup recorded 14 hits, tying a season-high with four home runs, to break an early 1-1 deadlock and run away with the program’s first semistate title.

New Palestine 13, Kankakee Valley 6

Elisha Barker high fives her teammates during introductions before the 3A IHSAA State Softball Championship game.

The Dragons celebrated the 87th birthday weekend of Ray Marcum, father of head coach Ed Marcum, with home runs in four different innings, including a seventh-inning grand slam by Elisha Barker.

Barker clubbed two home runs to finish with six RBIs on a 2-for-4 day at the plate. The team’s ace improved to 21-2 on the season with a masterful four-hit complete game. She struck out five and allowed one earned run.

Michaela Jones hit her third home run in the state tournament, and Ashley Prange also hit a two-run homer for her state-leading 20th of the year.

Jones was a flawless 4-for-4, while Abby Davis, Prange and Emily O’Connor were each 2-for-4.

The Dragons’ five-run top of the seventh pushed their state tournament runs total to 91 in six games and increased their home run total to 56 on the season. It was the third time in 32 games they belted four homers in a single game.

New Palestine (30-2) 010 220 5 — 10 14 0 Evansville Memorial (19-9) 001 000 0 — 1 4 1 WP: Elisha Barker LP: Lily Beurman HR: Ashley Prange, Elisha Barker 2, Michaela Jones (NP).

2B: Mi. Jones (NP), Beurman (EV).

Notables: Abby Davis 2-4, 2 runs, Prange 2-4, 2 runs, 2 RBI, Barker 2-4, 2 runs, 6 RBI, GS, 7.0 IP, 4 H, ER, 5 K, Mi. Jones 4-4, RBI, Emily O’Connor 2-4, 2 runs, Mackenzie Jones 1-1 (NP).

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After eight long years, the wait was finally over for the New Palestine Dragons. Back in the state championship game for the first time since 2009 and fifth time overall, the Dragons put their title drought to rest.

Challenged for the third time in the state tournament, New Palestine didn’t flinch as Kankakee Valley knotted up the game 2-2 in the bottom of the third. Instead, they responded with an eight-run top of the fourth to claim the program’s fourth state championship.

Kids watching from the stands when the 2009 team won it all, the modern-day Dragons mimicked their heroes, winning their 23rd straight game with a 17-hit outburst.

An Abby Davis two-run single in the second inning put New Palestine up early 2-0, but a three-run home run by Ashley Prange in the fourth fueled the Dragons’ swagger.

Prange’s bomb over the fence in center field padded New Palestine’s lead 7-2 and secured her place in history. The home run was her state-record 21st, the state’s single-season best 57th for the team and gave her 67 RBIs, surpassing assistant coach Michelle (Marcum) Hokl’s previous state mark at 65.

The Dragons collected their fifth offensive team state record in hits, needing only five to tie the program’s 2010 squad at 453. They finished the year with 465.

New Palestine broke three Class 3A state championship game team records in hits (17), runs (13) and runs batted in (10) en route to a program-best 31 wins.

Senior Mary Crumlin tied a 3A title game record with two doubles, going 3-for-4 with an RBI, and Prange finished 3-for-4 also tying a state finals record with her home run. Emma Tucher’s steal in the second inning tied a 3A record as well.

Barker earned her 22nd victory with a completegame finale, striking out four and was named the 3A championship game Mental Attitude Award winner.

Great job bringing it home!

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New Palestine softball State Champions

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road to a

championship _ The New Palestine Dragons finished the season 31-2 en route to their fourth softball state championship in school history. In the process, the Dragons captured their fourthstraight Hoosier Heritage Conference crown. Their Class 3A State Finals victory against Kankakee Valley on June 10 marked their 23rd consecutive win, which is the secondlongest streak in program history.

New Palestine΄s record on the pitcher's mound after their game against Center Grove on April 26.

2017 Season Results (31-2)

Madison Whitaker’s first-place medal.

April 4 at Southport » W 8-3

May 12 Connersville » W 6-4

April 7 at New Castle# » W 19-3 (6 inn.)

May 12 Connersville » W 15-0 (5 inn.)

April 10 Roncalli » W 1-0

May 15 at Greenwood » W 12-7

April 12 Franklin Central » W 13-7

May 18 at Indianapolis Lutheran » W 13-2 (5 inn.)

April 13 at Hamilton Southeastern » W 7-2

May 19 at Delta# » W 13-0 (5 inn.) # Hoosier Heritage Conference game

April 15 (n) Jennings County » L 2-0

New Palestine and Kankakee Valley set 3A state finals records for combined hits (29) and runs (19).

The Dragons 13 runs scored pushed their season total to 383, a state record, and marked their 104th in the state tournament. Their seven hits in the momentumchanging top of the fourth tied another 3A state title game record.

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New Palestine (31-2) 020 810 2 — 13 17 3 Kankakee Valley (22-9) 002 022 0 — 6 12 4 WP: Elisha Barker LP: Emma Maple HR: Ashley Prange (NP). 2B: Emily O’Connor, Michaela Jones, Mary Crumlin 2 (NP); Emma Maple, Ashley Fisher (KV). SB: Tatum Biddle (NP).

RBI: Abby Davis 2, Ashley Prange 3, Madison Whitaker, Elisha Barker, Michaela Jones, Tatum Biddle (NP); Emma Maple 2, Ashley Fisher (KV).

Notables: A. Davis 2-4, 2 runs, A. Prange 3-4, 2 runs, E. O’Connor 2-5, run, M. Whitaker 2-5, E. Barker 1-5, 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 K, Tianna Hart 1-1, run, Mi. Jones 2-5, run, M. Crumlin 3-4, 2 runs, Emma Tucher 1-3, 2 runs, T. Biddle 0-2, run, Sarah Greene 0-0, run (NP).

April 15 (n) Perry Meridian » W 16-0 (5 inn.)

April 17 at Warren Central » W 10-2 (8 inn.)

New Palestine Sectional

April 18 Yorktown# » W 4-3

May 22 Herron » W 27-0 (5 inn.)

April 19 at Zionsville » L 9-7

May 25 Bishop Chatard » W 11-6

April 20 Mt. Vernon# » W 11-1 (5 inn.)

May 25 Brebeuf Jesuit » W 19-0 (5 inn.)

April 21 Eastern Hancock » W 19-0 April 22 at Scecina Memorial » W 9-7

New Palestine Regional

April 22 (n) Floyd Central » W 7-6

May 30 Lebanon » W 8-1

April 24 at Wapahani » W 26-0 (5 inn.)

April 26 Center Grove » W 5-4

Jasper Semistate

April 27 Shelbyville# » W 9-1

June 3 Edgewood » W 16-0 (5 inn.)

May 2 at Cathedral » W 10-2

June 3 Evansville Memorial » W 10-1

May 3 at Pendleton Heights# » W 13-3 (6 inn.)

May 10 at Fishers » W 16-9

IHSAA State Finals

May 11 Greenfield-Central# » W 11-1 (5 inn.)

June 10 Kankakee Valley » W 13-6

CONGRATULATIONS, DRAGONS!

40 West Main Street New Palestine 317-861-5433 the daily reporter | Hancock county

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New Palestine teammates react at home plate after Ashley Prange hit a home run during the 3A IHSAA State Softball Championship game.

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Congratulations, Lady Dragons!

Team Roster and Final Season Stats

—2017—

new palestine

Dragons_

Hitting Pos Name Yr. AB Hits Runs HR RBI SB Batting Avg. 3B SS 2B SP LF C 1B RF DP CF 3B OF UTL OF P 1B C OF P P P

Emily O’Connor Soph. 120 67 44 14 59 3 .558 Ashley Prange

Jr. 134 74 59 21 67 5 .552 Abby Davis Sr. 18 56 56 1 38 1 .475 Elisha Barker Sr. 101 45 11 8 37 0 .446 Madison Whitaker Sr. 62 26 17 3 38 0 .419 Michaela Jones Fr. 106 43 35 7 26 2 .406 Mary Crumlin Sr. 106 43 26 3 38 0 .406 Emma Tucher Soph. 56 22 25 0 10 2 .393 Tatum Biddle Soph. 75 29 29 0 13 2 .387 Kaylee Kropp Sr. 76 23 23 0 15 3 .303 Emily Kotarski Soph. 4 2 1 0 1 0 .500 Amanda Barnes Jr. 2 1 2 0 1 0 .500 Tianna Hart Soph. 30 14 21 0 3 6 .467 Sarah Greene Soph. 3 1 13 0 0 2 .333 Mackenzie Jones Jr. 54 16 5 0 13 0 .296 Reiley Widmann Jr. 11 3 5 0 6 0 .273 Raegan Hiatt Fr. 2 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Samantha Cornelius Jr. 1 0 2 0 2 0 .000 Sydney Anderson Fr. 1 0 4 0 0 2 .000 Macy Miller Soph. 2 0 1 0 1 0 .000 Cameron Green Jr. 0 0 4 0 0 1 .000

Pitching

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Name Yr. W-L ERA IP GS CG ER BB K

Elisha Barker Sr. 22-2 2.53 135.1 24 11 49 46 98 Mackenzie Jones

Jr. 9-0 1.71 65.1 9 2 16 12 47 Jr. 0-0 1.31 5.1 0 0 1 1 5 Macy Miller Soph. 0-0 0.00 1.0 0 0 0 0 3 Cameron Green

Coaching Staff Head Coach

Assistant Coaches

Ed Marcum

Alyssa (Marcum) Dillard Audrey East Michelle (Marcum) Hokl the daily reporter | Hancock county

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Leading the way _ marcum relishes special season, fourth career state title

New Palestine head coach Ed Marcum holds the 3A IHSAA State Softball Championship trophy.

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New Palestine softball State Champions

Marcum reacts to a home run against Lebanon in the Regional Championship.

E

Ed Marcum and success have gone hand in hand since his coaching tenure began 14 years ago.

Taking the New Palestine softball program from 2003 state runner-up to firsttime state champion in his inaugural season in 2004, the Dragons have never fallen below 22 wins.

In fact, they’ve won 357 games with only 58 losses, but four wins in the month of June will define the head coach’s legacy.

An assistant coach for the Dragons two seasons prior to 2004, Marcum steered the program to three state titles in six years (2004, 2008, 2009) before this month’s prolific 31-2 run to a fourth.

His teams have won eight sectional titles, seven regional titles, advanced to five state finals and appeared in four state championship games. The Dragons won their fourth-straight Hoosier Heritage Conference title this season with an outright 7-0 finish.

And he’s done it all for his alma mater as a 1979 New Palestine graduate. Marcum, the 2009 ICGSA Coach of the Year, cherishes every win, team title, player, parent and the community he’s called home his entire life, which made the 2017 finale one he won’t soon forget

It’s been eight years since your team’s last state title. How’s it feel to claim your fourth championship as head coach? » I’m really happy for the girls. We get excited as coaches, but we get excited because of the opportunity these players have. This group of seniors has just been outstanding leaders. All five of them have been very dedicated, so I’m really happy for them. When you’re a senior, and you have an opportunity to end with a win and a state championship, there’s no better feeling. I’m just so excited for them.

Eight years — were you surprised it took so long to get back to the state finals after winning three titles in six years from 2004-09? » It’s been eight years, and this is hard to do. We kind of got on a roll here

early, and so people just thought this was going to happen all the time. And it’s tough. I’m thrilled to be able to bring it back to New Palestine, but more so than anything, I’m just so happy for the players and their parents.

How special was this journey for you and your family with your daughters, Michelle and Alyssa, on staff and the records this team and your players were able to surpass this season? » It was so cool. It just brings back the memories of when they were playing. Like (my daughters) said, it’s a lot tougher when you’re coaching than playing because playing, you just go out there and compete. When you’re coaching, you have all the other stuff to think about. They kind of understood from my perspective how tough this really is, but it’s so exciting. When Ashley hit that

the daily reporter | Hancock county

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Marcum has water poured on him by Mary Crumlin after the championship game.

home run to break the (RBIs) record, Michelle said on the bus over, I want my record to be broken, and I’d like it to be broken in the first inning. It took a little longer than that. At the same time, Ashley is so deserving. She’s such a great kid and teammate. If someone was going to break it, I’m glad it was her.

Can you even put into words the numbers your players posted this season, setting records in hits, home runs and runs scored? »Some have said this could be the best-hitting team in high school history because of the records that were broken. And you look at that, and we lost a few great hitters from last year, too.

But these girls really stepped up. They got confidence, they leaned on each other and just kind of went from there.

CONGRATULATIONS,

STATE CHAMPS! 12

New Palestine softball State Champions

Looking back now, how much us, to learn from it, and that’s what we did those two losses earlier talked about, learning and then going this year play into the way forward. The Zionsville game, looking your team back, we learned from it. was able to Like (my daughters) run the table, Four championships winning 23 — for some coaches, said, it’s a lot tougher straight to a that’s a career, but when you’re coaching state title? you’re not even close to than playing because »You know, calling it over, are you? playing, you just go out »No, I’m going to do when I look back, I’m this for awhile. When I there and compete. still mad started in 2004, my first When you’re coaching, about them. But at the year as varsity coach, I you have all the other same time, the Jennings wouldn’t have expected stuff to think about.

County game we came anything like this. I was out and didn’t play real an inexperienced coach, — ed marcum well. We hit the ball hard and they gave me an but right at them. Elisha opportunity. Mr. (Mike) pitched great, but they had one big hit Huey fought for me to be able to have the that cost us. We moved on from that, position, so I’m always grateful to him. didn’t play well that week and lost to ZiThe better players I have, the better coach onsville. We came back and had a really I become. It’s an amazing thing. It was good team meeting. They kind of took it just so much fun this year, and I’m just upon themselves then to put that behind really happy for each and every player.

“

”

"THE BIG DAWG HAS EATEN!" We love you, Mom, Dad & James

Great Job, Dragons!

Dr. Sharon Paluga • 317-861-4550 4037 S. Arbor Ln., New Palestine NewPalestineGentleDentist.com

LADIES! From your biggest fan this side of the Sahara

As proud as I am of what you’ve accomplished this year, I’m even more proud of the classy individuals you are!

Love and miss you all!

Coach Ashley

DR-31974362

ATUL CONGR

CONGRATULATIONS,

, DRAG ATIONS

!

ONS

Congratulations, Dragons!

DR-31974224

DR-31974360

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Crumlin slides safely to second base during the 2017 championship game. Inset, New Palestine's Abigail Davis beats the tag at third.

no record

Was Safe

R

Records are made to be broken, and the 2017 New Palestine Dragons were living proof.

Setting program standards for wins (31), hits, runs scored, runs batted in, at-bats, batting average (.437) and home runs along with three Class 3A State Finals team records, the state champion Dragons are considered by some as the best-hitting team in state history.

Their five single-season offensive team state records and two individual player state marks by star shortstop Ashley Prange support the claim.

Regardless of the team’s status in Indiana high school softball lore, the numbers will remain difficult to top for years to come.

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New Palestine softball State Champions

Team State Records Most Hits in a Season 65 4 453 4 1 1 4 1 1 4 04

New Palestine, 2017 New Palestine, 2010 Pendleton Heights, 2007 Leo, 2014 Center Grove, 1996

Most Runs Scored in a Season 83 3 364 360 356 352 350

New Palestine, 2017 Garrett, 1988 New Palestine, 2010 Center Grove, 1996 Leo, 2014 Heritage, 1993

Most Home Runs in a Season 57 New Palestine, 2017 37 Plainfield, 2016 33 Warsaw, 2011 33 Warsaw, 2012 32 New Castle, 2014

Most RBIs in a Season 355 326 313 309 305

New Palestine, 2017 Leo, 2014 New Palestine, 2010 Heritage, 1993 Center Grove, 1996

Most At-Bats in a Season 1 ,064 New Palestine, 2017 1,045 New Palestine, 2010 1,036 Lake Central, 2015 1,029 Roncalli, 2011 1,029 Yorktown, 2016 1,028 Greenfield-Central, 2010 1,028 Boonville, 2010

breakout performance

Emily O’Connor gets the out on Center Grove’s Addison Osborn during a regular season game.

Individual State Records Most Home Runs (Season)

New Palestine shortstop Ashley Prange obliterated her previous single-season highs in home runs, runs scored and runs batted in this season.

Her breakout campaign netted the Ohio State recruit two state records with her senior season still ahead with the Dragons in 2017-18.

In her career, Prange is hitting .465 with 115 runs scored, 110 RBIs, 38 doubles and 29 home runs.

Before this spring, her previous high in single-season home runs was five in 2016.

Prange owns the school’s single-season home run record, previously set at 10 by Michelle Marcum in 2010. She also eclipsed the school’s career record set at 26 by Issy Hoyt in 2016.

1 2 18 17 16 15 15 15 15

Ashley Prange, New Palestine (2017) Alaynie Wollard, New Castle (2014) Sierra Gilmore, Northeastern (2017) Josie Wood, North Miami (2014) Jordyn Rudd, Center Grove (2017) Miranda Hettinger, Winamac (2017) Alexia Clay, Culver Academy (2006) Mel Dumezich, Whiting (2008)

Most Runs Batted In (Season) 67 5 6 62 62 60 59

Ashley Prange, New Palestine (2017) Michelle Marcum, New Palestine (2010) Kelsey Crawford, Winamac (2017) Mackenzie Griman, Penn (2017) Alyssa Shaw, Pioneer (2016) Emily O’Connor, New Palestine (2017)

Class 3A State Finals Team Records

Ashley Prange takes a pitch as she bats during the final sectional game against Brebeuf Jesuit.

Most Hits (Game)

Most Hits (Inning)

17 New Palestine vs. Kankakee Valley, 2017 15 Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger vs. Boonville, 2010

7 New Palestine vs. Kankakee Valley, 2017 7 New Palestine vs. Andrean, 2009

Most Runs (Game)

Most Combined Hits (Game)

13 New Palestine vs. Kankakee Valley, 2017 10 New Palestine vs. Andrean, 2009

9 New Palestine (17) vs. Kankakee Valley (12), 2017 2 24 Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger (15) vs. Boonville (9), 2010

Most Runs Batted In (Game)

Most Combined Runs (Game)

10 New Palestine vs. Kankakee Valley, 2017 9 New Palestine vs. Andrean, 2009

1 9 New Palestine (13) vs. Kankakee Valley (6), 2017 17 Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger (9) vs. Boonville (8), 2010

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New Palestine softball State Champions