Polk County small ball leads to big win for Wolverines over North Henderson

Polk County’s small-ball approach meant big problems Thursday for North Henderson.

The Knights struggled defensively while the Wolverines did not, and Polk County’s bunt-and-run mentality led to an unexpected 11-2 rout of visiting North Henderson in a non-conference softball matchup of area powers.

North Henderson entered with a 13-3 record, fresh off a 21-16 win over Tuscola in which the Knights rallied from a 10-run deficit. But Polk County starter Ashley Scruggs held North Henderson hitless for three innings, by which time Polk County had built a 7-0 lead. Scruggs scattered five hits and struck out three in earning the win.

The Wolverines (12-4) did so with timely hitting sandwiched around North Henderson miscues. Polk County scored six runs in the second inning with just four hits, then added four runs in the fourth on just one hit.

“That was really good small ball execution,” said Polk County head coach Jeff Wilson. “We play for one run at a time. It’s our small ball mentality. Our girls are unselfish in moving runners up. . . and it gives us a chance to score as much as we can.”

While North Henderson had its fielding woes, Polk County did not. Catcher Ashley Kropp recorded four outs on popups, a rarity for a catcher, and two of those came on diving catches in foul territory. Right fielder Kinsley Jackson provided a defensive gem in the fifth inning, throwing out North Henderson’s Haley Pace at third base following Teegan Bullock’s single to right. Pace slid hard into Polk third baseman Brittany Jones, but the senior held the ball to retire Pace for the final out of the inning.

“It was a great throw from right field. I just hung in there and held on to the ball,” said Jones, who then tripled to open the bottom of the fifth. “I didn’t know if I would be able to hit or not, but I told the coach I was OK. I took my time and focused, because I was 0-for-3 before that.”

“Senior leadership helps you win big games, and Brittany Jones is an awesome leader,” Wilson said.

“So proud of our defense. Our pitcher kept them off-balance and we made some plays. We had four P2 (popups to catcher). You don’t see that in a season.”

Polk took a 1-0 lead in the first inning as Hayley Kropp was hit by a pitch, stole second, then scored two outs later on a North Henderson error.

Katelyn Allison and Ashley Ponder reached base to open the second, and Kinsley Jackson beat out an infield bunt, with the throw to first sailing into right field to allow two runs to score. Kropp then ripped a single to left to drive home Jackson and again stole second. One out later, Ashley Kropp fouled off several two-strike pitches before being hit on a 3-2 pitch. Scruggs reached on a bunt to load the bases, and Alexis McCraw singled to left to bring in another run.

Maddy Foy and Allison drew back-to-back walks to bring home two more runs before Ponder popped out to shallow left and Jonnie Petree threw out McCraw at home to end the inning, Polk County leading 7-0.

Petree’s single leading off the fourth broke up Scruggs’ perfect game, and the Knights scored two runs in the inning to make it 7-2. Foy matched that in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run triple to deep right field, driving home Ashley Kropp and McCraw, who had reached on walks. Foy then scored on a North Henderson error that allowed Allison to reach base, and another error allowed Allison to score to make it 11-2.

Jones crushed her triple to open the fifth, but that would be the Wolverines’ final hit.

“This was good for us,” Wilson said. “We have so much respect for North Henderson.”

Polk County travels to Mitchell on Friday for a Western Highlands Conference matchup before returning home Monday for a key WHC game with Mountain Heritage.

“Things are going really good. We’re still in the chase for the conference and getting into the playoffs,” Jones said. “The main thing is to keep having fun and playing as a team. There’s no selfishness on this team. We’re all playing together.”