Wolverines slide into big win over Vikings

Published 11:09 am Friday, March 28, 2008

To date, Polk County is 5-0 in conference play this season and 8-2 overall.

The hot streak continued on Tuesday night when the Wolverines hosted Avery County.

In the first matchup with a conference 1A opponent, the Wolverines showed off Brandon Jolley&squo;s arm and the bats in their lineup in a 6-3 win.

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Jolley pitched the first six innings and fanned seven batters.

&dquo;Brandon&squo;s keeping them off balance,&dquo; head coach Ty Stott said. &dquo;He&squo;s getting ahead of people.&dquo;

But it wasn&squo;t just his arm that sank the Vikings. His bat was the catalyst for a determined Wolverine team.

The sophomore went 3-for-3 from the batter&squo;s box and had three RBIs.

With two outs in the bottom of the second inning, the Wolverines found home plate.

Kamron Kerr walked to keep the inning going. J.P. Ruth followed with a single.

With two runners on, Ethan Edwards laid down a bunt and reached safely, driving in an RBI. Jolley followed with a single that scored Ruth.

Jolley then scored from second base on a Viking error.

Then in the third inning, Justus Burnett singled, stole second base and scored on a wild pitch.

In the fourth inning, Jolley&squo;s hot bat continued. With one out in the inning, Jolley sent a shot to left-center over the fence for Polk&squo;s final run.

Avery scored all three runs in the fourth inning.

Nick Jolley came into the game in the seventh inning to close out the game for Polk.

After a ground out for the first Viking batter, Justin Harris made a running grab in left field for the second out.

Jolley walked one batter and then fanned the next for the third out.

&dquo;You gotta make big plays,&dquo; Stott said. &dquo;We just keep on doing what we need to win. It&squo;s good to show we can still win the close games.&dquo;

Polk plays at Avery Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.