Wolverine offense continues to sizzle in 10-1 win over Owen

Polk County’s softball squad has been downright offensive of late – and nothing could make head coach Jeff Wilson any happier.

The Wolverines rapped out 10 hits and, more importantly, 10 runs Thursday in rolling past Owen 10-1 in a Western Highlands Conference matchup at Polk County.

It marked the third straight win for Polk County (6-2, 3-1), a streak in which the Wolverines have outscored those three opponents 38-1. Eight of the team’s nine starters had hits Thursday, and Polk also capitalized on some Owen defensive lapses with smart baserunning to defeat the traditionally tough Warhorses squad.

“I’m glad to see those hits,” Wilson said. “Brittany Jones got a couple of hits, which is important for us. Brandi Cordell does her job every game. She just battles. I’ve been really impressed with Kassidy Reynolds lately. She’s doing a good job.

“Getting a conference win is huge in what we call our 12-step process. Each step is important for us in reaching our goals.”

Owen loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the first, but failed to score as Polk starter Ashley Scruggs ended the inning with the first of her 11 strikeouts. The Wolverines then scored twice in the bottom of the inning, turning three walks, an illegal pitch and a wild pitch into a pair of runs.

Cordell and Reynolds smacked back-to-back doubles to open the second inning, and Reynolds scored later in the inning on an Owen error, giving Polk a 4-1 lead.

The Wolverines then broke open the game in the fifth, scoring three runs with two outs. Another Owen illegal pitch brought home the first of those runs, pinch runner Kinsley Jackson, then Jones drilled a double into the left-center gap to drive in Reynolds and Carolyn Couch. Polk County then added three more runs in the sixth, scoring once on a groundout, once on a wild pitch and once on Couch’s single to left.

Scruggs scattered six hits to earn the win.

“Ashley Scruggs pitched well,” Wilson said. “She kept a good team off balance. She came through with that key out after they loaded the bases, getting the strikeout. She stepped up her game there, and that’s not bad for a 14-year-old.”

Reynolds and Jones each had two hits to lead Polk County, which returns to action Friday at East Henderson in a non-conference matchup.