Polk Middle overcame blustery conditions and a late deficit, scoring nine runs over the final two innings to defeat Brevard Middle 13-10 in Blue Ridge Conference action Thursday at Polk County Recreation Complex.
Playing in wind gusts that reached up to 30 mph, the Wolverines (3-1) used a balanced offensive attack featuring six doubles and a home run to outlast the Blue Devils (2-2) in the back-and-forth contest.
Bella Lancaster led Polk’s 15-hit offensive effort, going 3-for-4 with two RBI, three runs scored and a double. Six other Wolverines recorded multi-hit games, with Kenzie Alm delivering a home run while going 2-for-5 with two RBI. Preslie Bradley (2-for-4, RBI, 2 runs, double), Minda McComas (2-for-4, 2 RBI, double), Payton Emory (2-for-4, 2 RBI, double) and Lucy Tessnair (2-for-4, RBI, double) also had productive days at the plate.
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Tessnair earned the win in relief, allowing just two hits and four unearned runs while striking out four in three innings of work. McComas pitched the first four innings, surrendering seven hits.
The Wolverines jumped ahead early when Alm singled in the first inning and scored on Lancaster’s one-out double. They extended their lead in the second when Tessnair singled with two outs, setting up Alm’s home run to center field. Polk added another run in the third when Lancaster reached third on a dropped third strike and error, eventually scoring on Harris’ groundout.
After Brevard surged ahead with a seven-run fifth inning to take a 10-4 lead, the Wolverines responded immediately. In the bottom of the fifth, Lancaster singled and scored on Harris’ single, followed by McComas’ double that
plated Bradley and Harris. Emory then singled to bring home McComas to slice the deficit to 10-8.
The Wolverines put the game away with a five-hit, five-run sixth inning. After Hayford reached on an error, Lancaster delivered an RBI single and Bradley followed with an RBI double to tie the game. With two outs, Taylor’s double scored Bradley, Emory’s double plated Taylor, and Tessnair capped the rally with another double to bring home Emory.
Polk Middle will return to action on Tuesday, hosting Hendersonville Middle at 4:30 p.m. at Polk County Recreation Complex.
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