It’s no secret to Polk County baseball fans that the Wolverines have a tendency to go through a mid-season slump, and this year has proved no exception, as head coach Ty Stott’s team framed spring break with two road losses.

Prior to the break, the Wolverines lost a close conference game to a Mitchell team they normally dominate. The team returned to action on April 26 only to be treated to a 10-run trampling in five innings, courtesy of the East Henderson Eagles in a non-conference contest at East Flat Rock.
While the back-to-back defeats were both unexpected and discouraging, the losses apparently served as a wake-up call for the Wolverines. After scoring just seven runs in the previous two contests, Polk County came storming back to upend conference foe Madison at home last Tuesday, April 25, by a score of 14-4 in six innings, and then finished up the week by traveling to Thomas Jefferson to crush the Gryphons in a non-conference match.
“Baseball is a 24-game season,” remarked Stott. “It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon. There’s some highs and lows, and sometimes we play over our heads, and sometimes there’s a bad stretch.”
Stott went on to explain the importance of keeping an even keel through the inevitable ups and downs.
“The players just have to understand that it’s just part of the season,” remarked Stott. “It happens every single year, and you just can’t panic.”
Polk County was certainly back in playoff form Friday night, as the Wolverines exploded for 18 hits en route to a 17-0 drubbing of the Gryphons of Thomas Jefferson that was mercifully called after five innings.
Offensive standouts for Polk included Joel Booker, who turned in a 5 RBI performance, going 3 for 3 with a double and a three-run home run. Lucas Cash went 2 for 3 with a double, while Dakota Turner was a perfect 2 for 2 with a two-run homer. Catcher Rooster Ross doubled and walked three times, scoring four runs.
Alec Philpott looked sharp on the hill as he earned the win, working a solid four innings while giving up just two hits. Turner took over in the fifth to preserve the victory. The Wolverines are now 14-4 overall and 9-2 in the Western Highlands conference.
Polk finishes up the regular season this week with three conference contests, including squaring off this evening, May 3, at home versus Owen. The Wolverines will be looking to deal the Warhorses their first conference defeat of the season.