At 19-3 overall, and 10-1 in the Western Highlands Conference (which the Wolverines recently won handily), Polk County High School softball coach Jeff Wilson has more than a solid winner.

As state playoffs approach (beginning May 13), Wilson might have a juggernaut. Those who’ve followed this team know that it’s more than numbers; it’s about players working together as a team.

As always, the Wolverines’ approach will be one game at a time, and one at-bat at a time. They won their previous two games, an 18-1 thumping of Hendersonville (via the ten-run rule, after five innings) on Tuesday, May 5, and a 1-0 non-conference squeaker over North Buncombe, on Monday, May 4.

At Hendersonville’s Jackson Park, Wolverine batters saw the ball well, responding with lots of hits and lots of walks, plating two runs in the first, nine in the second, and bashing two home runs in a four-run fourth.

Polk’s main assignment was to time the Bearcats’ offerings, which were a tad slower than the Wolverines’ opponents often hurl plateward.

In the top of the first, with Hayley Kropp of first (with the first of three walks, to which she added two hits, including s solo homer), Maranda Gosnell singled past third, with Kropp reaching third. Winning pitcher Ashley Scruggs grounded out, scoring Kropp. Gosnell, who took third on the previous play, scored on a wild pitch as Haley Fowler batted. Fowler walked, could not advance, but Polk laid the groundwork for what would follow.

Hendersonville answered with one run in the home first, as the Bearcats used two soft singles sandwiched around an infield bounce out, to cut Polk’s lead to 2-1.

From there, it was a run-away.

Alexis McCraw opened Polk’s second with a hard double to left. Maddy Foy singled, with McCraw holding her ground. A walk to Kassidy Reynolds, brought up Autumn Owen, who singled off the shortstop, driving in a run.  With Polk ahead, 3-1, and the bases still full, Hayley Kropp walked again, making it 4-1.  Gosnell walked, to send home another tally, before Ashley Kropp’s infield single made it 6-1. Fowler’s line single added two more runs, with runners at first and second.

Ashley Kropp singled to left, making it 9-1. Next batter fanned, but Maddy Foy kept the inning alive, lining a single, to re-load the bases. Reynolds doubled home two of those runners, before the inning ended. Polk led, 11-1.

As the game progressed, not only were the Bearcats seemingly unable to pitch fastballs, they also seemed unable to do much with Scrugg’s fast ones.

Polk already had enough runs to win by the ten-run rule, but the Wolverines added a single run in the third. Hayley Kropp finally got a pitch to swing at, and rifled a double over the left fielder’s head. Following a ground out that send Kropp to third, Ashley Kropp singled her in.

After two and a half frames, Polk led, 12-1.

Walks to Kinsley Jackson and Karli Wood brought freshman Autumn Owen to the plate. Owen, who knows how to swing a bat, drilled a shot over the fence in right center, to make it 15-1. Hayley Kropp followed with a high shot that also cleared the fence in that area.

Scruggs earned the win, going three innings. Caitlin Britton and Haley Fowler pitched shutout ball in the fourth and fifth, respectively.

“I thought we hit the ball pretty well,” Wilson observed. “We’re focused on bringing home the conference championship outright. The team worked together.”

Owen had three hits on the day. Hayley Kropp, who walked three times, and crashed a double and homer, said, “I hope to see the ball better (in the state playoffs).” That would be distressing for opposing teams.

On Monday, May 4, there was no ten-run rule, as the Wolverines’ lone first-inning run held, as they topped North Buncombe in non-conference play. Ashley Scruggs yielded just three hits, facing just 26 batters in seven innings. She fanned three, as the defense took care of the Black Hawks.

“Hayley Kropp had some very good plays at shortstop,” Wilson reported. “Kinsley Jackson, in right field, made some good running catches. I’m proud of my girls, because they have what it takes to win over tough teams.” North Buncombe is a 3-A school, he noted.