Kings Mountain raced to an 8-0 lead after two innings Wednesday and went on to hand Polk County a 17-2 setback in the Wolverines’ softball season opener in Kings Mountain. 

The Mountaineers (2-0) took advantage of Polk miscues, according to head coach Jamie Thompson, though the Wolverines still flashed plenty of positives in the loss. 

“We gave up too many unearned runs with two outs and base on balls,” Thompson said. “The girls played hard and we did a decent job putting the bat on the ball. 

“We did some good things that we can build off. I know this group of young ladies will learn from this and work hard. We will be a force to be reckoned with come conference time.” 

The Wolverines took a 1-0 lead in Wednesday’s game as Anna McFadden reached on a bunt, stole second and scored on Morgan Stott’s single. 

Stott then laced a one-out double in the third inning and scored on Jaylin Jackson’s single with two outs for Polk’s other run. 

Stott led Polk County at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a run and RBI. Allie Thompson and Jackson were 1-for-2 with McFadden going 1-for-3. 

Kings Mountain’s Emily Graham finished 4-for-4 with two doubles and seven RBI to lead the Mountaineers, with Jessie Dehler going 2-for-2 with a homer and three RBI. 

Polk County is back in action on Thursday, traveling to Erwin before opening Western Highlands Conference play on Friday at Owen. 

– Submitted by PolkSports.com