Cheek becomes all-time hits leader
BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Martin County baseball snapped a six-game losing streak with a 7-3 road win at East Carter on May 8. The Cards fell 8-5 to Belfry and 4-3 to Pike Central on senior night. A bright spot for the red and white: Damian Cheek became Martin County High School’s all-time leader when he racked up his 118th hit as a Cardinal.
MC vs Pike Central – The Cards dropped a close one on senior night to the Hawks on May 9.
Adian Horn hit a grounder at the top of the lineup to open the at-bat for the Cards. He snuck to second and Damian Cheek brought him home on a single to tie the game at one score apiece in the bottom of the first.
Senior Chase Stacy saw three up, three down in the second on the mound.
Neither team would score again until the bottom of the fifth when the Cards took the lead.
With Blake Lemaster and Horn on base, big hitter Crayson Lafferty stepped in the box.
The slugger sent a line drive to left field that scored both his Cardinal teammates and a 3-1 lead.
Pike Central responded with three runs in the following inning.
Cheek tried to rally the troops in the bottom of the seventh when he sent a bouncing grounder past the pitcher into no man’s land. That hit etched his name into the Martin County history books as the all-time hits leader with 118 in his career.
With the bases loaded, Martin County couldn’t muster up a hit.
Cheek had an outstanding night with a perfect 3-3 at the plate. The senior had one RBI.
Hunter Moore, Dylan Hale, and Crayson Lafferty each had a hit for Martin County. Lafferty drove across two Cardinals at home.
Adian Horn scored two runs and stole a base. Lemaster crossed home once for a score.
Stacy tossed all seven innings on the mound. He sent 10 batters packing on 105 pitches. He allowed eight hits and walked one.
MC at East Carter – Martin County breathed a sigh of relief after snapping a six-game losing streak with a win at East Carter.
The Cards were down 2-0 heading into the top of the fourth.
Damian Cheek knocked a grounder for a single.
Martin County’s Crayson Lafferty knocked the hide off the ball to center field to reach third and score Cheek.
Looking down the line, he took off after Chase Stacy lined out to right field and crossed home to tie the score up at 2.
Cardinals Ryan Stephens and Dylan Hale both singled. Dylan Spence came in as pinch runner for Stephens.
With two on base, Hunter Moore hit a hard grounder to load the bases.
Adian “Baby A” Horn was looking a full count when his keen eye saw ball four pass him by and score Spence to take the lead.
East Carter knotted the game back up in the following at-bat.
Pinch runner Jack Cline sped towards home on a wild pitch to regain the lead.
Lafferty stayed hard at work after he snuck home on a passed pitch.
Aidan Mann closed the bottom of the fifth at the mound.
Looking to score, Blake Lemaster racked up a double-bagger in the sixth frame.
After stealing third, he made his way home on a wild toss.
Keeping the Cards hot, Cheek scored the seventh and final run for Martin County after he watched an error that brought him in for a score.
Cheek finished the night with a flawless 3-3 in the batter’s box. He stepped on home plate twice and stole a base.
Hale had himself a night going 3-4 at the plate. He stole a base for the Cards.
Lafferty stuffed the box score with a triple, an RBI, a stolen base and two runs scored.
Horn racked up a hit and an RBI in the win. Lemaster collected a double and tacked on a run.
Moore and Stephens each had a hit, while Cline stole a base and scored. Spence tallied a run.
Mann received the win in the circle. He tossed 94 pitches striking out two. He allowed only three hits and walked three.
Knox Maynard threw 43 pitches and sent three batters back to the dugout. He allowed only two hits, zero runs and walked one.
MC vs Belfry – Martin County lost a tough one to the Pirates on May 5 in Inez.
Three games in a row, Damian Cheek hit for perfection going 3-3. He scored a run for the Cards and drove in a runner for a score.
Adian Horn and Blake Lemaster each rang up a hit and rounded the bases.
Dylan Hale, Hunter Moore, and Crayson Lafferty sent one out of the batter’s box.
Ryan Stephens drove in a score on a single. Eli Mills and Chase Stacy collected a hit and stole a base.
Spence put a run on the scoreboard.
Martin County tried out four pitchers on the evening. Knox Maynard tossed three innings striking out and walking two. He allowed seven hits and three runs as the starter.
Caige Presley had a 3.50 ERA tossing 41 from the mound. He struck out and walked two while allowing only one hit and one run.
Adian Horn threw 32 pitches and struck out two while walking a batter. Chase Stacy tossed 11 pitches, walking one while allowing two hits.
The Cards will host Betsy Layne at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday (May 14) and Perry Central on Thursday for their final regular season game.
Martin County was scheduled to play East Ridge on Tuesday (May 13). Details were not available at press time.
