2A Baseball: West Stokes runs away with 11-1 win over Polk County in first round
West Stokes' baseball team got off to a strong start in the first round of the NCHSAA 2A playoffs with an 11-1 win at home over Polk County via mercy rule in five innings on Tuesday.
Junior Josh Jones led the way offensively for the Wildcats (18-5, 9-1 Mid-State 2A) with two hits, including a home run, with three RBI and one run scored. Junior Dominic Mickle also had a two-hit outing, including a double and a run scored. Junior Evan Cecile (three runs), junior Jacob Smith (double, two runs, two RBI), junior Kaden Fuller (run, RBI), junior Bryson Bowman (two RBI) and freshman Andru Hall (two runs, RBI) each added one hit apiece.
Smith got the win on the mound for West Stokes, allowing no runs on one hit with seven strikeouts in four innings. Senior Mason Howell pitched the final inning, allowing one run on two hits with two strikeouts.
West Stokes opened the scoring in the bottom of the first. Smith drew a one-out walk, Jones singled and freshman Dylan Gastley walked to load the bases for Fuller, who drove in a run with a fielder's choice at shortstop to make it 1-0.
The Wildcats scratched out two more without a hit in the bottom of the third. Hall and Cecile drew back-to-back walks and Hall scored on a ground out by Jones to make it 2-0. Then Cecile scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-0.
Through three innings, Jones' single was the only hit against Polk County senior pitcher Micah Hill. But the Wildcats finally got to him in the bottom of the fourth. Mickle got things started with a double and Hall delivered a two-out single to left to make it 4-0. Cecile followed with a single and Smith smacked a backside double down the left field line to plate a pair. Then Jones cranked a two-run homer over the wall in left to make it 8-0. Gastley walked and Fuller singled to bring up Bowman, who lined a two-run single to left field to make it 10-0.
Down to its last out, the Wolverines (9-12, 5-7 Mountain Foothills 7 2A) managed to keep the game going with a run in the top of the fifth. Senior Chan Barber roped a single up the middle, then senior Coble Cameron blasted one deep to center that bounced off the wall for an RBI double to make it 10-1.
The Wildcats ended the game in the bottom of the fifth. Howell was hit by a pitch, then thrown out at second on a fielder's choice by Cecile for the second out of the inning. That's when Cecile made something out of nothing, stealing second and advancing to third on a ball in the dirt. Smith ripped a hard grounder straight at the first baseman, who bobbled the ball, allowing Cecile to trot home for the mercy rule victory.
With the win, West Stokes advances to the second round and will host Brevard. The Blue Devils (14-8, 5-7 Mountain Foothils 7 2A) went on the road to beat Madison 8-4 in the first round on Tuesday.
