For Polk County High School’s softball program, the 2011 season was, by all measurements, a resounding success.

The Lady Wolverines tallied 18 victories on their way to a 10-4 record in the Western Highlands Conference, good for a berth in the 2A state playoffs. Only a narrow early round loss to eventual state champion Pisgah kept the team from making a deep run into the state championships.
Fittingly, two athletes that played key roles in the team’s success recently learned that they had earned spots on the 2011 All-State roster, as the selection committee from the North Carolina Softball Coaches Association announced that both Alyssa Montgomery and Jamie Hrobak had received All-State awards.
The award marks the third time Montgomery, a rising senior, has made the All-State squad. The shortstop/catcher also pulled down all-Western Highlands Conference honors for the third year running, hitting safely in 22 of 66 at-bats for a .333 average while striking out just once on the year. Montgomery led the Lady Wolverines in walks and recorded 12 stolen bases on her way to earning the team’s best offensive player award.
For Hrobak, the All-State award is her second and just the latest in a string of accolades earned by the Lady Wolverines’ pitcher. The rising senior was also named District 8 Pitcher of the Year, the first athlete in the history of Polk County softball to receive the honor. Hrobak also earned a spot on the all-Western Highlands Conference team for the third time, posting a record of 18-6 from the pitcher’s circle with an ERA of 1.32, striking out 225 batters while walking just 24. Hrobak, who holds the school record for victories with 47, also excelled at the plate, posting a .414 batting average and hitting safely in 22 of 24 games.
“Alyssa and Jamie are great players as well as great leaders,” commented Polk head softball coach Jeff Wilson after the awards were announced. “They are rare in the fact that they will both be three-time captains of a varsity sport.”
Wilson attributes a great deal of his players’ success to the commitment from their families.
“As a varsity coach, it is refreshing to have parents that go the extra mile to help their kids –  to play ball in the summer, take them to camps, and so on – and both of these girl’s parents have done a great job for them.”
“I’m really proud of them,” added Wilson. “These two girls mean a lot to me and a lot to our program, and have absolutely helped us to be very successful.”