Polk County High School’s softball team polished off Asheville School, 9-1, at Columbus on Wednesday, March 5 to up its record to 3-0.
Fans and opponents might note that coach Jeff Wilson’s squad has outscored its challengers 34-2, in the early going.
On Tuesday, March 4 the Wolverines overcame chilly conditions to dust off Cherokee, 11-0.
Ashley Scruggs got the start on Wednesday, and largely overpowered Asheville’s batters, though the talented freshman also mixed in some off-speed pitches. Hayley Kropp’s two scorching doubles accounted for three of Polk’s runs. She chased home another run on a bases-full walk.
The Wolverine scoring machine started slowly, scoring one in the first, on Ashley Kropp’s sacrifice fly. In the home second, Polk got things going with two outs. Kinsley Jackson walked. Alexis McCraw followed with a dribbler, to the mound. Jackson and McCraw both hustled, and wound up on first and second, as the pitcher bobbled the ball. A passed ball put them on second and third, before Maddy Foy walked to load the bases. Hayley Kropp then let ball four go by, to push Jackson across the plate.
Scruggs’s pitching, along with good fielding by the winners, kept Asheville off the scoreboard. Offensive support was on the way.
Ashley Kropp walked to lead off the home third. Wilson sent Kassidy Reynolds in to run for her. With Scruggs at the plate, a pitch got by the Asheville catcher, and Reynolds scampered to second. Scruggs bounced out to the mound, as Reynolds ran to third, with just one out.
Brandi Cordell batted next, and reached first, but before that, another pitch beyond the reach of the catcher sent Reynolds home with Polk’s third run.
The score remained 3-0 after three innings, but neither Reynolds, nor her teammates, were finished. Reynolds led off the home fourth, bouncing a single past the short stop, then advanced to second on a passed ball. Foy’s infield single put runners on first and third with no outs, and brought Hayley Kropp to the plate. Kropp drilled a long liner beyond the aleft and center fielders, scoring Reynolds and Foy. Strong throws to the infield held Kropp at second, for the moment. Brittany Jones was out on a bouncer to third, moved Kropp to third. Kropp then scored on a wild pitch, to put Polk up, 6-0, where it stayed until the visitors’ sixth.
The Blues finally crossed the plate (once) in the top of the sixth, but all it did was spoil Scruggs’s shutout bid. A one-out walk, and a bad throw to first on an infield dribbler put Blues runners at second and third. Next batter bunted, and Polk got the sure out at first, while one run scored. An infield groundout left Polk ahead, 6-1 going to the home sixth.
Polk got that run back, and more. Foy led off with a walk, Hayley Kropp lined another double to left, scoring Foy, to make it 7-1. Jones flied out to short left center. Ashley Kropp followed with a line single to left, and went to second, putting runners on first and third. Janada Carson pinch ran for Kropp. With Scruggs at the plate, Carson raced to second on a low pitch. Scruggs grounded out, but Kropp scored Polk’s eighth run of the afternoon, and Carson moved to third. Leanne Wallace then pinch hit for Cordell. Wallace grounded to third, but the Blues’ third-base tender, in a moment of indecision about holding Carson at third, or going for the inning-ending out at first, finally threw wild to first, with Carson scoring easily, to make it 9-1.
Wallace stayed in the lineup to pitch the top of the seventh, but after a walk put Asheville runners on first and second, Scruggs returned to the mound. A strong throw by Ashley Kropp and a good tag by Jones erased the lead Blues’ runner who attempted to steal third. Scruggs got the next two batters on called third strikes to end the game.
“We’re off to a good start,” understated Wilson. “Ashley pitched a good game.
“I’m proud of our determination,” added Wilson. “Things didn’t come easily (but) we battled. Hayley Kropp hit the ball well. Kailyn Brown had a great bunt. That was the key to our big inning These girls play hard together. They like each other.”
The Wolverines were slated to play their next three games on the road – today, Friday, March 7 at East Henderson; Tuesday, March 11 at Brevard; and next Friday, March 14 at Madison.