Price shackles Polk as Landrum wins rematch with Wolverines

This time, there was no comeback in the Cards for Polk County.

The Wolverines spotted Landrum a three-run lead last week, then fought back for a 6-5 victory on the Cardinals’ home field.

Landrum again took an early three-run lead in Monday’s rematch, but the Cardinals made that advantage hold, defeating Polk County 6-1 in a non-conference clash at Polk.

Cardinal sophomore Sydney Price had much to do with the change in fortune. Price allowed just two hits, struck out 10 and generally kept Polk County (8-11) quiet offensively for most of the warm afternoon.

The Wolverines did their only damage in their final at-bat. Sarah Vitale drove a Price pitch to the fence in left for a double to open the seventh, then got company on the bases as Miya Jackson was hit by a pitch with two outs.

Ada Kelley rolled a slow infield grounder that wound up with an errant throw into the outfield, allowing Vitale to score.

But Price recorded her final strikeout of the day to quell any Polk thoughts of a late rally.

Chloe Young had the only other hit for Polk, a single in the fourth after Amberlyn Scruggs walked to open the inning. But with a Polk threat brewing, Price struck out the next three batters she faced to end that Wolverine opportunity.

Landrum (6-9) took advantage of two Polk errors to score three runs in the first, then added a run in the third on Abby Hammer’s solo home run.

The Cardinals added two more runs in the fourth, both with two outs, to build the lead to 6-0.

Polk County is set to travel Tuesday to Brevard for a Mountain Foothills 7 Conference battle. The two teams will then meet again Thursday in Polk’s finel game of the regular season.