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Not quite flawless, but not a bad start to the 2025 season Tuesday for Polk County’s baseball team.

Three Wolverines combined on a five-hitter and Polk took advantage of Madison fielding miscues to record a 3-1 non-conference victory over the Patriots in the season opener for both teams at The Bottoms.

Noah Harden, Alex Perry and Karson Scruggs teamed to strike out nine and walk just one batter in the win. Polk’s defense helped the mound cause with an error-free debut, a key contrast to the five errors that Madison committed.

“We pitched it well,” said Polk County head coach Billy Alm. “We struggled hitting in some big situations where we could have opened up the game, but I was definitely pleased defensively with some things.

“We’ve only been out on the field for three outside practices, so I was pretty excited with what I saw tonight.”

Polk did most of its damage offensively in the third inning. Jayce Edwards lined a base hit to left and took second on Nate Fagan’s sacrifice bunt. Gunnar Alm then lifted a fly ball to deep right field that Madison misplayed, the error putting runners on second and third.

Noah Harden drew a walk before an error on Karson Scruggs’ grounder allowed Edwards to score. Mason Beiler then drew a walk to force home Alm for a 2-0 advantage

Madison’s Max Shelton hammered a two-out homer in the top of the sixth to make it 2-1, but the Wolverines matched that run in the bottom half of the inning as Alm doubled, stole third and scored on a wild pitch.

“We manufactured a few runs,” Billy Alm said. “We had the bases loaded (two) times and had a chance to open it up. But being the first game, first-game jitters, trying to do too much. All things that we’ll correct.

“But I was very pleased with what I saw tonight.”

Harden earned the win, allowing three hits and striking out three in three innings. Perry struck out five and gave up two hits while Scruggs pitched a perfect seventh inning.

Alm, Scruggs, Perry and Edwards each had base hits for the Wolverines.