Eight not enough for Owen, Polk County softball

After eight emotional innings Friday, second place in the Western Highlands Conference softball race still remains to be determined.

Polk County and Owen battled the elements and each other for three hours Friday, only to reach the end of eight innings tied 8-8 at 8 p.m. With street lights starting to come on as darkness fell on Polk County’s field, umpires and coaches agreed to suspend the game.

No date and time for resumption of the game has been set yet. The two teams are scheduled to play again Friday at Owen.

After playing through on-again, off-again rain that grew heavy at times and a series of lead changes, players no doubt welcomed a break from the three hours of drama. The two teams entered the game tied in the loss column for second place and the final automatic playoff berth in the WHC, Owen at 8-5, 7-2, Polk County at 9-5, 5-2.

Owen scored two runs in the top of the first, Polk responded with two in the bottom, and thus began a scoreboard see-saw that lasted into the night. Down a run in the bottom of the fifth, Polk County took an 8-7 lead on Ashley Scruggs’ two-run triple down the right-field line. Ansley Lynch then made a spectacular running catch in center field with two Owen runners on to end the top of the sixth, preserving the lead.

But Alivia Brigman opened the seventh with a double to left-center, moved to third on a wild pitch and then scored on Bria Compton’s sharp single to left, tying the game at 8-8. Autumn Owen opened the bottom of the seventh with a single and reached third with two outs, but the Wolverines were unable to drive her home.

Neither team scored in the eighth. Polk County briefly took the field for the top of the ninth, but the decision to suspend the game came quickly.

Polk County is slated to return to action Monday, hosting Gaffney, S.C. at 5:30 p.m. in a game to be played at Polk County Recreation Complex.