Wolverines tame Tigers with 14-4 victory in season opener

Runs in every innings, solid relief pitching and a win by run rule.

Polk County’s 2023 baseball debut couldn’t have unfolded much better.

The Wolverines steadily pulled away Wednesday from Rosman, claiming a 14-4 five-inning victory over the Tigers in Polk’s season opener at Rosman Community Park.

Rosman dropped to 0-2 with the loss.

How it happened: The fireworks began early for Polk – leadoff batter Gunnar Alm doubled and Alex Tipton smashed a single to give the Wolverines a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Tipton then stole second, Lawson Carter drew a walk and moved to third, with Tipton scoring, on an errant pickoff throw.

Alex Perry’s grounder scored Carter and gave Polk an early 3-0 lead.

Polk added two runs in the second and another in the third to lead 6-4 before four-run rallies in both the fourth and fifth innings. A two-run error on Mason Beiler’s grounder and Cohen Edwards’ RBI single highlighted the fourth-inning surge, with Carter smashing a two-run double in the fifth, followed by Angus Weaver’s sacrifice fly and Bryson Jones’ RBI single, to close the scoring.

At the plate: Tipton returned to the lineup after missing last season and had a 3-for-3 day, scoring four runs, stealing three bases and driving in a run. Carter finished 2-for-3 with three RBI and scored three runs while Alm was 2-for-4 with two doubles and scored twice.

Perry was 1-for-2 with two RBI, with Jones, Edwards and Weaver each adding a hit and RBI.

On the mound: Noah Harden earned the win, pitching 1 2/3 innings and allowing three hits and four runs, two of those earned.

Edwards and Perry teamed for 3 1/3 innings of scoreless two-hit relief. Edwards struck out four in 2 1/3 innings while Perry struck out two in a scoreless inning.

Next up: Polk County travels Saturday to West Wilkes High School, where the Wolverines will face North Stokes and Surry Central in the 9th Annual Blackhawk Baseball Early Season Test.