Back in action for the first time since returning from spring break, the Lady Wolverines resumed play at home Wednesday, April 27, squaring off against conference rival Madison County. Just shy of three weeks ago, in Marshall, the Lady Patriots defeated Polk County for the 10th consecutive time, edging the Lady Wolverines in a 3-2 heartbreaker.
When asked during pregame warm-ups if her team was itching for payback, Polk’s Haley Champion refused to take the bait. Instead, the senior captain just smiled and replied, “It’s going to be a good game.”
Champion’s prediction proved to be spot on, as a large crowd was treated to a thoroughly entertaining battle between two talented softball teams.
The Lady Patriots jumped out to the early 1-0 lead, touching up Polk fireballer Jamie Hrobak for two hits in the first, as Shelby Metcalf doubled down the right field line and was driven home by cleanup hitter Carrie Gentry’s base hit up the middle.
Polk managed to draw even in the bottom of the second, as Cassie Couch ripped a double to the gap in right center and then scored on a Kara Garvin RBI double to the same location.
The score remained knotted at one apiece until Madison broke the deadlock in the top of the fifth. Leadoff hitter Makeyla Drewnoski laid down a perfect bunt, stole second and then scored on a base hit by Hannah Burnett, giving the Lady Pats a one run advantage at the end of four and a half.
After back-to-back Madison errors put Polk runners at the corners to lead off the bottom of the fifth, Shalyn Brown laid down a sacrifice bunt that scored Brittany Jones from third and tied the score at two all. With two outs, Alyssa Montgomery came up huge, lashing an Allie Leake changeup through the middle, scoring Casey McDowell from third for the go-ahead run.
Cleanup hitter Hrobak put the icing on the cake, crushing a Leake offering over the fence in left center for a two-run homer, giving the Lady Wolverines the 5-2 conference victory.
“We’re having fun,” said head coach Jeff Wilson following the game. “We just feel like we’re getting better, and having fun doing it. We feel like we’re all pulling in the same direction and it’s a good atmosphere.”
Hrobak picked up her 14th win of the year and the 43rd of her career, striking out 10 while walking just three.
The Lady Wolverines improve to 14-4 on the season overall, and are now tied with Madison for second place in the Western Highlands conference with a record of 7-3.