Even the atmosphere before the game seemed different this time. As the JV teams finished up their game, there seemed to be certain calm in the Polk dugout. One you wouldnt normally associate with a rivalry that been so dominated by Cardinals in recent seasons. Not only that Landrum had won, but the way they consistently seemed to find a way to come from behind in close games.
But last Thursday night, for this game at least, the result was never really in question. Lucas Cash had an outstanding night on the mound, at the plate and a lot of help from his Polk teammates.
Polk jumped out front early and never really looked back. They put up four runs in the first, highlighted by Cash’s two-run double and Brandon Jolley’s RBI single. Cash continued in the third with a two-run blast, and Tyler Philpott added a two-run single with the bases loaded in the fourth as Polk went up 8-1.
Cash later sacrificed to center sending the score to 9-1. Polk added two more runs in the fifth, with Rooster Ross’s single to right ending the contest.
Polk coach Ty Stott said, “This was a big win for the kids. Its Landrumits a rivalry. Our seniors have lost so many close games to Landrum, so this was their night. We played with enthusiasm and they had fun.”
“Polk’s got a good team. They had a good pitcher out there..(he) threw the ball real well. We just had trouble getting the bat on the ball and made some careless mistakes,” Landrum coach Dennis Brown said.
Hunter Pruitt took the loss for the Cardinals after going four innings. He allowed nine runs (six earned) off five hits with two strikeouts and a walk. Gus Wofford had the lone hit for the Cardinals with an RBI double in the top of the third.
Leadoff man Danny Fraga went 3-for-4, and Ross went 2-for-4 to help power the Polk offense. Polk improved to 7-2, while the Cardinals dropped to 3-7.