BY BOO NEWSOME
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
Martin County went undefeated through week 3 of high school baseball. The Cardinals swept the Tug Valley Panthers 4-3 and 8-7 in a two-game series and the Menifee County Wildcats 19-0 and 17-0 in a doubleheader.
The wins moved the Cardinals to 7-0 on the season.
Below is a recap of the action:
MC vs. TV Game 1
NAUGATUCK, W.Va. — Martin County narrowly edged Tug Valley 4-3 in the first of a two-game series March 25 at Panther Mart Field in Naugatuck, West Virginia.
Martin County was first to get on the board in the third inning, stealing base to score two runs. The Cardinals tacked on one run in the top of the fifth and one in the seventh to lead 4-0.
Tug Valley showed muscle in their final at-bat in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Panthers plated three runs before the game ended to set the final score.
Chase Stacy earned the win for the Cardinals. He gave up five hits and no runs over five innings, striking out eight and walking two. Aiden Mann collected the save, giving up three runs on three hits, striking out three and walking one.
Zachary Hall took the loss for Tug Valley. He pitched three innings, surrendering two runs on two hits, striking out six and walking two. In relief of Hall, Jacob Jones yielded one run on one hit, recording two strikeouts and four walks. Conner Lackey entered the game late, allowing one run on two hits while striking out three.
For Martin County, Ryan Stephens went 2-for-4 at the plate and batted one run in. Brock Messer had two singles, stole two bases and scored two runs, Damian Cheek delivered a single, Evan Mills and Aiden Horn each stole a base and scored a run, and Eli Mills each stole a base.
Hall hit a double and single with two RBIs for Tug Valley, while Lackey and Austin Smith each collected two hits and Chandler Copley singled.
MC vs. TV Game 2
INEZ — The second game of the series was a walk-off victory for Martin County over Tug Valley 8-7 in eight innings at Cardinal Stadium in Inez. The game was tied at 7-7 in the bottom of the eighth when Ryan Stephens singled, scoring one run.
The Cardinals got on the board in the first inning, scoring two runs on errors. Tug Valley got even, scoring one in the second inning and adding a run on an error in the third to tie the game 2-2.
The Cardinals unleashed in the bottom of the third inning, scoring five runs on a single by Aiden Horn that drove in two, a double by Damian Cheek, and singles by Brock Messer, Ryan Stephens and Eli Mills.
Neither team scored for the next three innings.
Tug Valley tied the game in the top of the seventh thanks to an error and singles by Austin Smith, Gavin Fitzpatrick and Gage Whitt.
With runners on second and third in the bottom of the eighth, Stephens delivered his clutch walk-off to clinch the victory for Martin County.
Cheek earned the win, giving up five hits and two runs over eight innings, striking out 10 and walking one.
Smith took the loss for Tug Valley. The reliever went four and two-thirds innings,m giving up one run on seven hits, striking out five and walking two. Jones started the game for Tug, giving up seven hits and seven runs (three earned) over two and two-thirds innings, with no strikeouts and one walk.
Martin County had 14 hits, while Tug Valley had eight.
Stephens went 4-for-5 at the plate, batted in two runs and scored for the Cardinals. Horn had three hits and two RBIs and scored two. Cheek had a double and single with an RBI and scored a run. Messer had a hit, an RBI and a run. Hunter Moore doubled while Chase Stacy, Eli Mills and Aiden Mann each singled.
Whitt had two hits and two RBIs for the Panthers. Julian Vance had a hit and two RBIs while scoring two runs. Fitzpatrick recorded a hit, an RBI and a run. Ashton Smith scored two runs and stole two bases while going 1-for-4. Austin Smith had a hit and scored a run. Dakota Ooten had a hit and a run and Conner Copley had a hit.
Cards vs. Wildcats Game 1
FRENCHBURG — Martin County shut out the Menifee County Wildcats 17-0 in three innings in game 1 Saturday at Menifee County.
The Cardinals erupted for seven runs in the first inning. Ryan Stephens singled, scoring two runs; Jack Cline was hit by a pitch, driving in a run; Hunter Moore singled, driving in a run; and Aiden Horn tripled, scoring three runs.
They piled on two runs in the second on a Hunter Moore double before delivering the knockout blow of eight runs in the third. Stephens grounded out, scoring one run; Moore doubled to bring in two; Eli Mills singled to score one; Cline singled to score one; Horn singled to score one; Messer doubled to score one; and Cheek singled to score a run.
Evan Mills earned the win, allowing two hits and striking out two over two innings. Moore threw one inning for the Cardinals in relief, allowing no hits and striking out three.
Masters took the loss for Menifee.
Martin County had 17 hits vs. Menifee’s two.
Horn went 3-for-4 at the plate, including a triple, four RBIs and two runs for the Cardinals. Hunter Moore doubled and singled, batted in four and scored two runs. Stacy doubled, singled and scored two runs. Messer doubled, batted in one and scored two runs; Eli Mills recorded two singles, one RBI, stole a base and scored two runs. Jack Cline singled, had two RBIs, stole a base and scored two runs. Stephens had a single, three RBIs and scored a run. Cheek singled and batted in one. Aiden Mann stole two bases and scored three runs.
Masters and Tung each had a hit for the Wildcats.
Cards vs. Wildcats Game 2
FRENCHBURG — Martin County blanked Menifee County 19-0 in three innings in game 2 Saturday at Menifee County.
The Cardinals scored 11 runs in the first inning. They added two in the top of the second inning on a Collin Mills single and Cheek triple.
As in the first game, Martin County delivered the fatal blow in the top of the third inning, scoring six runs for the mercy rule.
Mann got the win on the mound, allowing no hits and no runs over two innings, striking out four. Hale threw one inning in relief, allowing no hits, striking out one and walking two.
Tung took the loss for Menifee.
Cheek led Martin County with two hits, including a triple, two RBIs and two runs. Mann singled and had three RBIs. Horn singled and had three RBIs and two runs. Messer and Moore each had a single, an RBI and two runs. Evan Mills and Colin Mills had hits. Eli Mills, Jack Cline, Brock Messer and Corey Stacy each stole a base.
