BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — The Big Sticks 11U baseball team out of Martin County stormed through the Christmas in July tournament on July 13 going 3-0 to claim the tournament championship.

The Big Sticks opened the tourney with a 4-3 win over the Pirates 11U sparked by Jonah Mills’ late-game solo home run in the top of the third inning. Mills finished 2-for-2 with two RBIs, a homer over the fence, and a run scored.

Kaiden Bertling and Brock Fields each added a hit, scored a run and stole a base, with Bertling swiping two. Jayce McCoy also crossed the plate.

On the mound, Blaine Williams threw three no-hit innings and struck out six Pirates. Fields closed the game with a scoreless inning of relief and sent two back to the dugout.

In the semifinal round, Big Sticks took down Riptide 11U 3-1 behind an all-around effort from Fields, who picked up the win on the mound. He struck out seven over four innings, surrendering just three hits and one unearned run. He also contributed at the plate with a hit, an RBI and two stolen bases.

Parker Stafford drove in a run with a hard-hit single, while Beckham Spaulding, Bertling, and Fields each scored a run.

Kaiden McCoy added a hit and stole a base for the Big Sticks.

The championship game against the Titans was another thriller with Mills stepping up again. He crushed his second home run of the tournament. Mills finished with a hit, two runs scored and an RBI. He also earned the win on the mound, striking out three over three innings.

Stafford sealed the 4-3 victory by closing out the final two innings pitching in relief.

Blaine Williams scored a crucial run. Jayce McCoy had a hit. The team stole 10 total bases.

Bertling provided the game-winning moment, stealing home with a head-first slide in the fourth to give Big Sticks the lead for good. He also tallied a hit and an RBI.