Polk County managed just three runs Monday, its second lowest offensive output of the season, against a solid Swain County squad.
That was still two more runs than the Wolverines needed to extend their winning streak to six games.
Solid defense and the pitching of Ashley Scruggs powered Polk County to a 3-0 win over Swain in non-conference softball action on a hot and windy afternoon at Polk.
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Swain (11-8) had just four hits, but still threatened to score in both the third and sixth innings, moving runners to second and third in the third and loading the bases in the sixth.
Scruggs induced cleanup hitter Kendra Kirkland, who tied a state record last week with four home runs in a game, to pop up to first baseman Brandi Cordell to end the threat in the third, and Alexis McCraw made a beautiful running catch of Brianna Stepp’s line drive to center in the sixth to stop both Maroon Devil chances.
“It’s our basic plan,” said Polk County head coach Jeff Wilson. “We want to pitch good, try to make all the plays and get timely hitting.
“I felt like the girls really kept their focus. Our defense stepped up. I’m really proud of how we played their slappers (left-handed hitters looking to ‘slap’ the ball for infield hits).”
Polk County (16-4) took a 1-0 lead in the second. Ashley Kropp reached second on an error, and one out later, Maddy Foy’s bunt single moved courtesy runner Katelyn Allison to third. Another Swain error on Kassidy Reynolds’ grounder allowed Allison to score.
The Wolverines then added two more runs in the third. Ashley Scruggs and Kropp singled, with McCraw then reaching on an error to load the bases. Foy singled to left to drive in one run, and Allison, again running for Kropp, raced home on a wild pitch to score the other run.
“Our base running was the key to the game,” Wilson said. “Katelyn Allison took off and got home on the wild pitch. She’s a young kid with a lot of speed that can make things happen.”
Foy finished 2-for-3 and Ashley Kropp 2-for-4 to lead Polk County, which also got hits from Hayley Kropp, Scruggs and Cordell. Scruggs struck out five in the win.
Polk County wraps up its conference schedule on Tuesday at Hendersonville. A win over the Bearcats and a Mountain Heritage loss to Madison would give the Wolverines a share of second place in the Western Highlands Conference standings.
