By Mark Schmerling

Polk County’s smooth-pitching combo of Konner Scruggs (four innings, no hits, seven strikeouts and the win) and Daniel Painter (three innings, two singles, four strikeouts) helped the Wolverines down the visiting Asheville Trailblazers, 3-0, on Wednesday, March 4.

The contest was moved up a day in anticipation of rainy conditions yesterday.

Polk moved to 1-1, after losing a 1-0 heartbreaker at East Rutherford on Monday, March 2.

In the home third of a scoreless game, Polk’s leadoff batter J.D. Edwards lined single over shortstop. After Edwards stole second, Brice Martin ripped a hard ground single to left, scoring Edwards, with Martin taking second on the throw home.

Polk struck again in the fourth. With one out, Scruggs coaxed a walk. Corey Skipper ran for Scruggs. With Skipper on first, Noah Howell grounded to second. The second baseman tried to cut down the lead runner, but his throw to second was a hair late, and Polk had two men aboard. Next, the Trailblazers’ shortstop bobbled Painter’s grounder up the middle, and couldn’t get the ball to second. Polk had the bases loaded with just one down.

Martin walked to drive in his and the Wolverines’ second run, with Mark Mazzilli following with another RBI walk, to put the hosts up, 3-0.

When the Trailblazers got their first hit of the game, Polk catcher Tyler Campbell promptly gunned the runner out trying to steal second.

Only in the top of the seventh did the Trailblazers threaten. With runners on first and second, Painter fanned the next batter, but the following batter sent a liner to center. Mazzilli snagged it and made a strong throw to third, with no advance by either runner. Painter whiffed the next batter to end the game.

Polk coach Ty Stott said that at the team’s first off-season workout, back in December, he presented his players with ten things they could execute to double last year’s win total (seven). One was to beat teams this year that had beaten them last season. Last year, the Trailblazers defeated Polk twice.

“Pitching is where it is,” Stott noted. “Konner (Scruggs) might be the most improved pitcher out there.”

 

Stott added that if the pitching is consistently good, batters won’t feel pressured to swing hard every time up, and will score runs.

“We’re right where we want to be right now,” Stott remarked.

Polk’s next game is this Friday evening at Columbus, against East Henderson. On March 10, the Wolverines visit East Henderson, and on March 11, they host Chase.