On a warm spring evening Tuesday, March 22, a loose and relaxed Wolverines team took the field at Polk County High, preparing to host the Mountaineers of Mitchell County.
Getting set to play their second conference game of the season, Coach Ty Stott’s squad was quietly confident, and with good reason.
Polk had won their first conference game on the road by a score of 12-0 at Mountain Heritage Friday, and had trampled rival Landrum 17-5 in a non-conference match just 24 hours earlier.
Other teams that had averaged 15 runs per game in their previous two outings might have been excused for easing off the offensive throttle a bit, but Polk County isn’t just any other baseball team.
With their focus scope locked on a third straight Western Highlands conference title, it was pedal to the metal all the way, as the Wolverines crushed the visitors from Bakersville 16-0, in a game called by mercy rule after five innings.
Offensively, the Wolverines were led by Dakota Turner, who went 2 for 2 with an RBI single and a three-run homer, winding up with four RBIs on the night.
Alec Philpott added four RBIs as well, going 1 for 2 at the plate with a grand slam home run. Other standouts included Andre Overholt (2 for 3) and Lucas Cash (2 for 2), though Polk’s hit show was a true team effort as eleven different Wolverines drew blood at the plate.
Polk’s pitching staff continued to vex opponents, as the Mountaineers were held to just two hits on the night. Turner took the hill to start the game and put in a solid four innings of work, striking out four while walking none and earning the win.
Joel Booker relieved Turner in the fifth inning and was impressive in his first appearance on the mound, striking out all three of the final Mitchell batters to preserve the victory.
Asked if he intended to work Booker into the regular pitching rotation, Stott answered pragmatically.
“We’re going to have to, because we only have three other pitchers right now, so we’re doing it out of necessity,” said Stott, referring to the absence of staff ace Lucas Cash, who continues to be nagged by an arm injury.
Stott expressed confidence in Booker’s pitching ability, adding “We’ve known we’re going to need an extra arm for a while now, and we feel he’s probably going to be very good at it.”
Polk (5-1, 2-0) resumes conference play on Friday, March 25 at home versus Avery.