For the second straight game, Polk County got a solid complete-game effort from a starting pitcher. Unfortunately, for the second straight game, the Wolverines were unable to score enough runs to back that effort.
Held to two runs Friday by Mitchell in a 3-2 setback, Polk County dropped a 3-1 decision on Monday to Mountain Heritage in Western Highlands Conference action at Polk County.
The setback, the third straight for the Wolverines, left Polk County at 4-5 overall, 2-2 in WHC play, and allowed Mountain Heritage to avenge last week’s 10-7 loss to Polk County in Burnsville.
Get PolkSports delivered to your inbox
Sign up for our free newsletter →
Konner Scruggs earned the win in that game, and he pitched again Monday, striking out 13 batters in perhaps his best effort of the season. But the Cougars put together a two-run rally in the top of the sixth to take command of the game and give winning pitcher Wesley Randolph all the support he would need.
“We’ve got to hit,” said Polk County head coach Ty Stott as the Wolverines held a lengthy players-only meeting in the outfield after the game. “We’ve got to man up for the competition and face the man 60 feet away and find a way to beat him.
“We’re not giving ourselves the opportunities. We’re not making any opportunities, not making any luck.”
Mountain Heritage (3-4, 1-1) grabbed a 1-0 lead before the Wolverines evened the score in the fourth. J.D. Edwards singled to open the inning, then moved to second on Daniel Painter’s sacrifice bunt. Scruggs followed with a towering drive into the gap in right-center field, his double driving home Edwards with the tying run. But Randolph got a strikeout and infield grounder to end the inning and leave Scruggs stranded on second.
Polk wouldn’t threaten again, though Noah Howell did lace a two-out double to right-center in the seventh.
“Our two pitchers (Scruggs and Morgan Groves) have manned up and are throwing any amount of pitches they have to throw to get us through,” Stott said. “We’ve played nine games and had eight practices. Maybe if they practice more and play less games as we go along that will help.
“We were 4-2 a little while ago and we just fell apart. Hopefully we’ll take it upon ourselves to turn it around.”
Bryce Martin had two hits to lead Polk County, which is back in action at home on Tuesday, facing Avery County in a 5 p.m. start.
