BASEBALL: Fagan’s complete game helps Wolverines trample Cougars

Published 1:09 pm Friday, March 28, 2025

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Nate Fagan had no doubt who would pitch the final inning Thursday for Polk County.

“I’ve got one more,” Fagan said as he walked into the Wolverine dugout during the sixth inning of the non-conference tilt with Mountain Heritage.

The Polk freshman did indeed have another good inning in the tank, shutting down the Cougars to polish off his first complete game as a Wolverine in Polk’s 10-4 victory at The Bottoms.

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Fagan needed just 82 pitches while scattering eight hits and striking out three without a walk. His effort could have come at no better time for Polk County (6-6) heading into Friday’s game at Hendersonville, Polk’s last before spring break.

“We needed that tonight because our pitching’s kind of thin right now,” said Polk head coach Billy Alm. “That helped us out big time for (Friday).

“He went out and threw strikes and competed, and we played defense behind him.”

Mountain Heritage (3-7) pushed across two runs in the top of the fifth to take a 4-3 lead. But Polk answered with a six-run rally in the bottom of the frame that set the foundation for the final outcome.

Alex Perry and Mason Beiler drew walks to start the outburst. Avrey Hensley followed with a line-drive double into the gap in right-center to score Perry before Noah Harden laced a single to right for another run and a 5-4 Polk advantage.

Mark Jarrett dropped a double down the left-field line to score Hensley, and Fagan followed with a single to right that brought home Jarrett. Cooper Meyer’s single to left was misplayed in the outfield and rolled to the fence to bring home the final run of the inning.

Polk added another run in the sixth as Hensley singled, Harden was hit by a pitch and two wild pitches allowed Hensley to eventually score. Hensley finished the night 3-for-4 with two RBI.

“Avrey Hensley, the last two games, has come out and just murdered pitches,” Alm said. “He had one of the hardest-hit balls I’ve seen him have in his four years here.

“And then, obviously, (Gunnar Alm), and Mark and Noah are coming around. Mason is barreling up balls. If the hitting starts to come around, everything’s going to pick up.”

Polk grabbed a 2-1 advantage in the first inning as Karson Scruggs doubled, Perry reached on an error and another Heritage error on a Beiler grounder allowed Scruggs to score. Hensley followed with a base hit to plate Perry for the 2-1 lead.

The Cougars made it 2-2 before the Wolverines again struck. Harden drew a leadoff walk and Jarrett singled before, with two outs, Alm hammered a drive to left-center hopped over the fence for a ground-rule double, Harden crossing the plate for a 3-2 Polk lead.

Alm finished 2-for-3, with Scruggs 2-for-4 with two doubles and Jarrett 2-for-4 with an RBI. Harden, Fagan and Meyer each added a base hit as the Wolverines had 12 hits for the evening.

Polk County was set to wrap its pre-spring break schedule on Friday, traveling to Hendersonville for a Mountain Foothills 7 Conference matchup.