BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Martin County tennis duo Connor Dials and Bryson Dials and Lady Cards softball player Alyssa Mullins are the Tommy’s Auto Sales Players of the Week.
The Dials brothers became the first doubles team to advance to the KHSAA tournament, as well as the first players to reach a state tournament twice in Martin County tennis history.
The two, known for their relentless pace and strategic chemistry, entered the 15th Region tournament as the No. 4 seed in doubles. They capitalized on a first-round bye and followed up with a convincing 6-2, 6-3 win to secure their spot in the state bracket. Though they narrowly missed a regional title — falling 4-6, 6-7 (5-7) in a tense semifinal tiebreaker — their postseason run cemented them as the No. 2 doubles team in the coaches poll.
Commitment took the form of a punishing 10-day schedule ahead of the tournament, which one coach jokingly dubbed the “Dials Brothers World Tour.” In that stretch, the siblings competed in six matches to qualify for seeding. They finished the season with a 10-5 record and pushed the eventual regional champions to the brink.
Connor, a senior co-captain, will graduate this spring and has already drawn interest from college programs.
Bryson, a sophomore, returns next season with years to develop and lead.
The Dials brothers’ decision to join forces in doubles this year — after ranking individually in singles last season — proved to be a turning point.
Alyssa Mullins came in clutch to pitch relief in a senior night win over Prestonsburg on May 14.
She hit a perfect 4-4 at the plate and smashed a double-bagger. Mullins drove in a Lady Cardinal runner and crossed home twice in the 12-9 win.
She tossed 23 pitches in the final inning and struck out a batter. She received an award in the pregame ceremony for her 100th strikeout.