Edwards’ gem, Polk offense too much for Avery

The best Avery on the field Tuesday night wore Polk County colors.

Polk freshman Avery Edwards fired a four-hit shutout and the Wolverines broke open the game in the first two innings en route to a 16-0 rout of Avery in Western Highlands Conference baseball action at Polk.

Edwards struck out eight in the five-inning win as Polk improved to 3-8, 1-3. He closed the game by striking out the side in the fifth inning.

“He did everything we asked him to do,” said Polk County head coach Ty Stott. “His off-speed stuff was working. He threw his fastball well. He definitely went out and competed. He got a win we needed to have.”

Polk County got all the runs that Edwards would need in an eight-run first inning.

J.D. Edwards continued his recent torrid hitting with a double to center to lead off the inning. A walk to Bailey Livesay followed before Avery (0-6, 0-3) committed errors on three straight Polk ground balls. Sedric Pickett reached on an infield single, and an error on the throw allowed two runs to score to give the Wolverines a 5-0 lead.

Bryan Dadson singled to right, and one out later, Cory Skipper laced a double to center to drive in Pickett and Dadson. J.D. Edwards then had his second hit of the inning, singling to center to drive in Skipper and make it 8-0.

The Wolverines continued the onslaught in the second. Daniel Painter reached on an error before back-to-back singles by Howell and Pickett led to one run. Dadson hammered a double into right-center field to drive in Howell, and an error on Zane Johnson’s infield grounder allowed Pickett and Dadson to score.

One out later, J.D. Edwards doubled down the right-field line to drive in Johnson and give Polk a 13-0 lead.

The Wolverines added three runs in the fourth on Brett Phipps’ RBI double and two Avery errors.

J.D. Edwards finished 3-for-3 and Dadson and Pickett each had two hits for Polk.

“Tonight some people started swinging the bat,” Stott said. “J.D. had a three-hit game. I sent him a text the other day and told him I knew he could be great in the short term, but could he do it long term? That’s four games and counting. J.D. has been a leader the last four games. He’s shown all-out effort.”

Polk County travels Thursday to East Henderson.

“Our next game is Thursday night,” Stott said. “If we can go out and play very solid baseball and compete and hustle, then maybe there are more believers in that huddle (of Wolverine players).”