Polk County High School varsity baseball coach Ty Stott said last week that he’d like his hitters to be more aggressive.

In yesterday’s game against visiting Thomas Jefferson, only the relentless wind blowing in from left and center kept more of the Wolverine’s drives in play, as Polk clubbed Thomas Jefferson, 10-2.  Polk is now 6-5 overall, and 5-0 in the conference.

Winning pitcher Daniel Painter held the visitors to two runs, while striking out five, including all three batters he faced in the fourth. Alec Philpott hurled the final two frames, in which he fanned one batter, and induced three more to make outs on weak bouncers back to the mound.

Painter’s teammates gave him early support, scoring four runs in the first, and adding four in the second.

Though his team played well, Stott knew the weather was a factor.

It’s no fun to hit when it’s cold,” he remarked, but it’s definitely tough to pitch when it’s cold.”

Painter, whose record is now 3-0, drew praise from Stott.

“He mixes his pitches up. He keeps them (the hitters) off balance.”

In the first inning, while playing short, Philpott showed his great arm, and some pure athleticism, when he charged a slow bounder, grabbed it barehanded, and made a strong throw to first, to retire the side.

In their half of the first, the Wolverines got it going with two outs. Catcher Bryce Martin bounced a comebacker to the mound, where Thomas Jefferson’s pitcher made a good stop. However, his low throw just eluded the first baseman. With cleanup hitter Wed Brady at the plate, Martin stole second. Brady walked, putting runners on first and second for Dylan Turner, who singled through the middle, scoring Martin.