Kali Masters tripled home the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning as Polk County Middle rallied to defeat Waynesville Middle 6-5 in Thursday’s Blue Ridge Conference softball game at the Polk County Recreation Complex.
Waynesville took a 5-4 lead in the top of the seventh before Polk Middle answered in the bottom half. Kenzie Alm led off with a double and stole third. Payton Emory singled to tie the game at 5-5, then Masters followed with a triple to left field to score Emory with the winning run.
Polk Middle had built a 3-0 lead through two innings before Waynesville scored twice in the third and once in the fourth to tie the game at 3-3. Masters’ RBI single in the fifth gave the Lady Wolverines a 4-3 advantage before Waynesville’s seventh-inning rally.
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“These girls never gave up and are really starting to work together,” said Polk Middle head coach Leanne Panter. “It is great to see this kind of teamwork so early in the season. The confidence they showed both at the plate and on the field was impressive.”
Emory led Polk County Middle with three hits, a double and two RBI. Masters added two hits, a triple and two RBI, while Alm contributed two hits, including a double, and scored twice.
Kayla Hayford had two hits and an RBI, while Emma Jackson, Kaydence Cole and Aubrey Champion each added one hit.
Champion earned the win, pitching all seven innings and striking out eight.
Polk Middle (1-1) travels to Apple Valley Middle on Monday.
