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By Jed Blackwell

 

Polk County’s softball team is loaded at the top of the lineup.

In a 7-4 midweek win over Rosman, the bottom of the order looked pretty good, too.

The Wolverines 6 through 9 hitters came up huge on Wednesday, notching three hits, reaching base six times and scoring four of Polk County’s seven runs. 

“We didn’t hit well to start with, but the bats came around toward the end,” Polk County coach Phillip Miller said. “The bottom of the order hit well throughout.”

No. 6 hitter Junie Mitchell and No. 7 batter Laney Littlefield sparked a fourth-inning outburst that doubled Polk County’s early 2-0 lead to 4-0. Mitchell singled and Littlefield drew a walk, and both eventually scored with Mitchell coming to the plate on No. 9 hitter Miya Jackson’s RBI single and Littlefield scoring on Mia Bradley’s sacrifice grounder.

Jackson wasn’t done contributing, coming through in a big way in the bottom of the sixth to break a 4-4 tie. After No. 8 hitter Aslyn Scruggs reached on an error, Jackson singled again and both scored when Bradley reached on an error. Chloe Young smoked a double to the right-centerfield gap to drive in Bradley and round out Polk County’s scoring on the night.

The Wolverines took advantage of Rosman’s miscues, cashing in on several errors by the Tigers.

“That’s what we’ve got to do,” Miller said. “When teams make errors, we’ve got to make them pay.”

One of those errors started the scoring, as Bradley reached, stole second and scored when Young reached on an error. Sarah Vitale singled to drive in Young for an early 2-0 lead.

Vitale also pitched well for the Wolverines, particularly in the early going.

“Sarah pitched well,” Miller said. “Especially to go back-to-back. Hats off to her. And now she’s got to come back and go again tomorrow.”

Rosman scratched out single runs in the fourth and fifth innings before tying the game in the sixth on RBI hits by Abby McCall and Kiki Sexton.

Miller said the win was a crucial one for the Wolverines.

“We just did what we’ve got to do,” Miller said. “We’ve got to win non-conference games, got to get to .500, got to win every game we can win.”