BY BOO NEWSOME
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
Martin County had a tough week on the diamond. The Cardinals dropped a decision to Tug Valley to set the tone April 10, then followed with two losses in a row April 11 and 12 in a district doubleheader against Johnson Central.
Below is a recap of the action.
Tug Valley takes 6-2 win over Cards
NAUGATUCK, W.Va. — Martin County watched the game slip away early April 10 in a 6-2 loss to Tug Valley on the road.
Tug Valley was looking to avenge an earlier 13-7 loss to the Cardinals. The Panthers plated three runs in the first inning to go up 3-0. Austin Smith, Brayden Dotson and Dakota Ooten each reached base on walks. With the bases loaded Smith scored on a passed ball and Zachary Hall doubled to bring home two more runs.
The Cardinals scored two runs in the fourth to cut the lead to 3-2. Chase Stacy reached base on a walk. Garrett Alley singled to put runners at first and second with no outs. Ryan Stephens reached base on an error and Stacy scored. Dennison Davis was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Dawson Mills grounded to shortstop for a fielder’s choice bringing home two runs.
Tug Valley stretched the lead by three more runs in the fifth. Smith laid down a bunt to reach first and Dotson reached base on a walk. Conner Lackey singled to bring in two runs making the score 5-2. Dotson scored on a tag up to set the final score.
Dennison Davis started in the circle for the Cardinals. The pitcher gave up six runs on three hits over five innings, striking out five and walking six. Mills threw one inning, giving up two hits and striking out two.
Smith went the distance on the mound for the Panthers. He gave up four hi8ts and two runs over seven innings, striking out five and walking three.
Tug Valley scored six runs on five hits committing three errors. The Cardinals scored two runs on four hits committing one error.
Greyden Proctor, Aidan Horn, Alley and Evan Crum each collected a hit to lead the Cardinals.
Dotson, Lackey, Hall, Chandler Copley and J. Jones each collected one hit for the Panthers.
Eagles shut out Cards
PAINTSVILLE — The Cardinals battled for six innings and played solid defense, but Johnson Central busted loose in the bottom of the sixth inning for six runs to take the 7-0 victory.
This was a defensive battle for both teams until the decisive sixth. The Cardinals held the Eagles scoreless until the bottom of the fourth inning. Johnson Central’s Cole Ward singled in the fourth and Gavin Crum was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second for the Eagles. Ward advanced to third on a steal and tagged up on a fly ball to make the score 1-0 Eagles.
The Eagles struck in the bottom of the sixth inning. Brock Butcher got hit by a pitch. Cole Ward hit a ground ball and reached base on an error and Crum walked to load the bases. The Eagles got five hits and picked up six runs to pull ahead 7-0.
The Cardinals struggled at the plate getting three hits for the game. Damien Cheek, Ryan Stephens and Dawson Mills each collected a hit to lead Martin County.
Chase Stacy got the start in the circle for the Cardinals. The righty gave up seven runs on seven hits over five and two-thirds innings, striking out three and walking one.
Mills threw one-third of an inning in relief and gave up one hit.
Hunter Blevins took the circle for Johnson Central for five innings, giving up three hits and striking out 12. Dawson Montgomery pitched two innings in for relief, giving up one hit and striking out two.
The Eagles scored seven runs on eight hits. Ethan McCarty recorded two hits, Boston Crace, Chase Preece, Cole Ward, Brayden Shepherd and Cameron Kelsey each picked up one hit for the Eagles.
JC sweeps Cards
INEZ — Playing Johnson Central for the second day in a row, Martin County dropped an 8-3 decision April 12 at home.
The Cardinals scored three runs in the first inning to go up 3-0. Dawson Mills and Aiden Horn started the inning with walks. Greyden Proctor knocked a line drive double in the gap in center field to bring in two runs. Then Proctor scored on a pitched fast ball to put the Cardinals up 3-0.
The Eagles put up a fight in the third inning to plate four runs. Brayden Shepherd reached base on an error and Brock Butcher doubled to put runners on the corners. Cole Ward followed with a single and Chase Preece went yard for a home run. When the dust settled the Eagles where in front 4-3.
Johnson Central struck again in the fourth. Cameron Kelsey reached base on an error and Butcher singled. Kelsey was thrown out stealing third. Ward reached base on a walk and Crum was hit by a pitch. Butcher scored to put the Eagles up 5-3.
The Eagles added two more runs in the sixth and one in the seventh.
Proctor started on the mound for the Cardinals. The pitcher went five innings, allowing seven runs on nine hits, striking out six and walking one. Damien Cheek threw two innings in relief out of the bullpen, giving up one run and one hit and striking out three.
Johnson Central pitched five pitchers for the game with Gavin Crum picking up the win. Crum went two innings, allowed three runs on one hit and struck out five.
Proctor provided the only offense for the Cardinals bringing in two runs with a double.
