BY BOO NEWSOME
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

WINCHESTER — Big Sticks 9U travel baseball team finished as runner-up in the 9U Winchester Summer Classic Tournament June 24-25.

Comprised of Martin County players and coached by Chad Williams, Chad Howell, Joe Maynard and Brad Broaddus, Big Sticks defeated Scott All Stars 11-7 in the opening round game June 24.

Big Sticks jumped out 6-3 in the first inning and added five runs in the second for the win.

Big Sticks recorded four hits in the victory. Blaine Williams belted a triple, while Kaden McCoy, Beckham Spaulding and Parker Stafford knocked singles. Stafford scored two runs and finished with two RBIs. Williams, Spaulding and McCoy each crossed the plate twice.

In game 2 of pool play, Big Sticks defeated Bourbon Smoke 9-4 in four innings. Both teams were off to a fast start scoring three runs each in the first inning. With the score knotted 3-3 at the end of one, Big Sticks rallied four more runs in the second inning, one in the third and one in the fourth to seal the win.

Big Sticks recorded nine hits. Spaulding knocked two hits, including a triple; Stafford belted two hits, one being a double; Williams finished with two hits; Parsley, Kaiden Bertlin and Gunner Broaddus each contributed one hit.

First-round tournament action June 25 saw Big Sticks defeat the Scott All-Stars 11-7.

Big Sticks plated six runs in the first inning, then added five in the second to take an 11-3 lead. All-Stars came back in the third and plated four runs, but it was not enough as Big Sticks pulled out the win to advance to the championship game.

Big Sticks lost a tough 15-8 battle to Bourbon Smoke in the championship game.