INEZ — Martin County High School baseball opened the 2023 season with an 11-2 loss to Shelby Valley in seven innings at home March 13.
Shelby Valley’s Jaxon Dameron pitched five innings allowing two runs on three hits and three walks while recording five strikeouts.
The Cardinals sent three different pitchers to the mound: Dennison Davis, Chase Stacy and Greyden Proctor.
Martin County got down early giving up two runs in the first and six in the second and committing three errors as Valley jumped out 8-0.
Davis got the nod for the Cardinals to start the season and gave up six runs on two hits and five walks in one and one-half innings.
Stacy took the mound for one inning allowing two runs on two hits and recording two strikeouts.
Proctor took the mound for four and one-half innings to finish the game giving up three runs on three hits and recording eight strikeouts.
Evan Mills got a single in the third inning, but it wasn’t until the bottom of the sixth that the Cardinals got their bats going again.
Damian Cheek tagged a double and Dawson Mills reached base with Proctor on deck. Proctor ripped a single to bring home Cheek and Mills.
The Cardinals trailed 9-2 going into the seventh inning.
Shelby Valley notched two more runs in the top of the seventh for the final score.
Martin County Coach Wesley Hager wasn’t too shaken up about the loss.
“We weren’t able to find the zone early on the mound,” Hager said. “We struggled to make pitches early and when we did make pitches we made errors behind it.”
Hager said he was eager to get the season opener in with the basketball team headed to the state tournament last week.
“Overall we made a lot of mistakes and Shelby valley capitalized on them,” added Hager. “If we limit our mental mistakes and play fundamental baseball we will be just fine.”
The Cardinals scored two runs on four hits. Shelby Valley scored 11 runs on 10 hits.
Week 2 had the Cardinals hosting Tug Valley Monday (March 20) and traveling to Pike County Central Tuesday (March 21). They are set to host West Carter Thursday and Phelps Friday. They hit the road Saturday to Morgan County.