New Castle hasn't had much luck against New Palestine recently, but that could start to change on Tuesday. The Trojans will welcome the Dragons at 5:30 p.m. New Castle is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.4 runs per game this season.
While New Castle didn't have the best season last year (they finished 7-18), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past. They were the clear victors by an 11-4 margin over Cambridge City Lincoln on Thursday. The Trojans haven't had any issues with the Golden Eagles recently, as the game was their third consecutive victory against them.
Kattie Mathews
| 04/24/25 @ Cambridge City Lincoln | 3 |
| 04/22/25 vs Cambridge City Lincoln | 2 |
| 04/21/25 vs Mt. Vernon | 2 |
| 04/18/25 @ Northeastern | 2 |
| 04/15/25 @ Shelbyville | 2 |
| + 2 more games |
New Castle got a massive performance out of Kattie Mathews, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with three stolen bases and three runs. Mathews has been hot, having posted two or more stolen bases the last seven times she's played. Another player making a difference was Sydney Dobbs, who went a perfect 1-for-1 with two stolen bases, two runs, and one RBI.
Meanwhile, New Palestine faced Noblesville in a battle between two of the state's top teams on Monday. The Dragons walked away with a 6-3 win over the Millers. Winning may never get old, but the Dragons sure are getting used to it with their third in a row.
Sadey Hughbanks spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned runs on nine hits.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Katie Hirschy, who went 2-for-3 with one home run and one double. Kylee Beranek was another key player, going 1-for-2 with two runs and one double.
New Palestine's victory bumped their record up to 11-1. As for New Castle, their win bumped their record up to 6-3.
New Castle's speedy runners might be the difference in Tuesday's contest. The Trojans have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 5.2 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for New Palestine, though, as they've been averaging only 1.2 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will New Castle continue to outrun the ball?
New Castle might still be hurting after the 15-0 defeat they got from New Palestine in their previous meeting back in April of 2024. Will the Trojans have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
