Polk County did its part Tuesday to start building momentum for the state 2A playoffs – not to mention aiding international relations.
The Wolverines had no trouble rolling past winless Hendersonville, taking a 13-0 five-inning Western Highlands Conference win that could easily have been much more lopsided.
Polk County (11-8, 7-4) scored in all of its at-bats, and the fact that the Wolverines scored their 13 runs with just six hits probably says all that need be said about how the game unfolded.
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There was plenty to say, though, about Polk’s at-bats in the bottom of the fourth.
All season, foreign exchange students Monica Garcia-Fabuel and Alice Combernoux have been fixtures on the Polk bench, cheering on their teammates. With Tuesday’s game well in hand, Polk head coach Billy Alm gave the two players a chance to bat, much to the delight of the Wolverine dugout.
Garcia-Fabuel drew a walk, sprinting to first with both arms raised. She eventually reached third later in the inning, still with both arms raised. Combernoux struck out, but took a couple of swings in doing so.
After a tough Friday at Owen, at which Polk suffered two losses, the easy win and at-bats of Garcia-Fabuel and Combernoux were welcome sights for the Wolverines and Alm, who made a couple of tweaks for the game.
“We changed a couple of things in the lineup and changed a couple of things we’re doing pitching-wise,” Alm said. “I’m calling the pitches now. We’re trying to get (pitcher Ashley Scruggs) on track.
“We need three wins this week to get on track for an at-large bid. We definitely needed to get back on track after Friday night took the wind out of our sails.”
Maranda Gosnell finished 2-for-2 with three RBI to lead Polk. Amber Miller, Hannah Emory and Karli Wood each had hits, with Hayley Kropp adding a two-run homer.
Scruggs allowed four hits and struck out 10 in the win.
Polk County travels Wednesday to face the Asheville Trailblazers in a 4 p.m. non-conference game. The Wolverines then conclude their regular-season schedule on Thursday, hosting Mitchell.
