Things may not have fully fallen into place Tuesday night for Polk County’s baseball team.
But they came pretty darn close.
The Wolverines snapped a three-game losing streak with solid, sometimes spectacular, defense, more outstanding pitching and some offensive punch in topping Avery 6-1 in a Western Highlands Conference matchup.
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Morgan Groves tossed a complete-game three-hitter, retiring 13 straight batters at one point as Polk County (5-5, 3-2) put together one of its best efforts of the season. The Wolverines have now given up three or fewer runs in three straight games.
“We played good defense, we pitched well and we hit the ball a little bit,” said Polk Count head coach Ty Stott. “5-5 is not where we want to be, but after being 4-5, 5-5 sounds good.”
Two of Avery’s first three batters got hits off Groves to plate the Vikings’ lone run, but Groves only allowed one more hit the rest of the game, striking out five in earning his first win of the season.
Polk County tied the game in the bottom of the first on JD Edwards’ base hit, then took a 2-1 lead in the second as Tyler Campbell doubled home Noah Howell. The Wolverines added two runs in the fourth inning, turning base hits by Holden Owens and Edwards, a hit batter and a sacrifice into a 4-1 lead.
Polk County sealed the win in the fifth as Campbell singled and Martin walked with two outs. Painter followed with a sharp single to left that slipped past the Avery fielder, allowing both runners to score.
“I don’t think we’re going to score 10 runs a game, but we had a little better approach at the plate,” Stott said. “Tomorrow we get to practice and Thursday we get to practice and we’re starting to get somewhere.”
Daniel Painter, Edwards and Campbell each had two hits for Polk County. Martin walked four times and was hit in his other at-bat to reach base in all five plate appearances.
