Polk County pounded out 11 hits Tuesday, overwhelming defending state champion East Rutherford 9-3 in a non-conference softball game in Forest City.
The Wolverines (9-1) racked up eight runs and nine hits in six innings against East Rutherford starter Savannah Davis in avenging last year’s 6-0 playoff loss to the Cavaliers (6-4).
“I’m very proud of the girls,” said Polk County head coach Jeff Wilson. “Obviously, beating the defending state champions on the road and the team that put you out of the playoffs is big.
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“I asked the team before the game what our weakness was. Senior Kassidy Reynolds spoke up and said we have got to play through the tough times. . . we’ve got to keep believing when things aren’t going our way.”
The Wolverines built a 4-0 lead before East Rutherford rallied for three runs in the fifth. Polk County then hung four runs on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth and added a run in the seventh to seal the win.
Ashley Scruggs earned the win, pitching seven innings and scattering nine hits. Scruggs also went 2-for-4 with a triple. Autumn Owen finished 3-for-5 with a double, Hayley Kropp and Maranda Gosnell each had two hits and Alexis McCraw and Maddy Foy each singled for Polk.
Another big game looms Wednesday for Polk County as Madison, the defending Western Highlands Conference champions, visit for a 4 p.m. game. The Patriots are 4-1 and have scored 73 runs in their last three games.
