Phipps solid in debut, but Wolverines fall to Chase

Polk County dropped a 5-0 decision at Chase on Tuesday in non-conference baseball action, but a bright spot did emerge for the Wolverines.

Sophomore Brett Phipps made his varsity pitching debut and held Chase to two hits and an unearned run in two-plus innings of relief work.

The Trojans (10-8) built a 2-0 lead against starter Tyler Campbell, then added three late runs to back the four-hit pitching of Jack White, who struck out five in the complete-game win.

Mark Mazzilli went 1-for-3 to up his team-leading batting average to .340 and had five putouts in center field, including a diving catch in the third inning. Phipps also had a hit in his lone at-bat.

Polk County (7-10) is scheduled to be back in action on Wednesday, traveling to Asheville Christian Academy. The Wolverines are then home Friday for a huge Western Highlands Conference game with Owen that could potentially decide the WHC’s second playoff qualifier.