“Tellico is down and has a very young team,” said Polk County coach Bill Triplett after the game. “We played well, threw strikes and a lot of our young players got into the action.”
Triplett’s talented team will get a tougher taste of competition this week in tournament play at McMinn Central.
The 2-0 Wildcats take on Alcoa Thursday, play Cookeville and Rhea County Friday and finish up the tournament against Maryville Heritage on Saturday.
“I’ve been pleased with our run production,” Triplett said of the first two games of the season. “We did what we had to do, and our young players got to play.”
Polk County collected 14 hits in Tuesday’s win over the Bears, while pitchers Hunter Carter and Jaron Simpson combined for the no-hit shutout. Carter tossed the first four innings, while Simpson finished in the fifth.
Michael Hargrove had a long home run for the Wildcats at the plate, while teammates Collin Wimberley and Alex Akins both went 3-for-3 with three RBIs. Duncan Coffey had a 2-for-3 day with two RBIs.
Polk County slammed five doubles in the contest, with Akins getting two. Wimberley, Coffey and Jim Bob Maples all connected on two-base hits.
WILDCATS 18, BEARS 0
Tellico 000 00 — 0 0 4
Polk County 21(12) 3X — 18 14 1
WP: Hunter Carter (1-0), 4 IP, 6 Ks, BB; Jaron Simpson. LP: Dillon McNabb. Highlights: HR: Michael Hargrove. 2B: Alex Akins 2, Wimberley, Coffey, Maples. Wimberley, Akins 3-for-3, 3 RBI., Coffey 2-3, 2 RBI. Records: Polk County 2-0, Tellico Plains 0-2.
