BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Martin County baseball enters the 2026 season with a new head coach, a mix of veteran leadership and young talent, and a team mindset centered on effort and improvement.
Ethan Osborne, previously an assistant in the program, takes over the Cardinals after Martin County finished 10-16 overall last season, including a 7-12 record in the 15th Region and 1-6 in the 57th District.
Now in his first year as head coach, Osborne said the team’s attitude has stood out heading into opening day.
“What I like most about this team heading into the season is our hustle and determination to get better as a team,” Osborne said. “We’ve got a group of guys who are eager to improve in every aspect of the game.”
The Cardinals return several key pieces from a 2025 squad that hit .285 as a team, scored 144 runs, collected 176 hits and drew 95 walks in 26 games.
That approach could be important for a Cardinals squad looking to take a step forward against a demanding schedule that opens March 18 at home against Hazard. Martin County also faces early tests against Floyd Central, Tug Valley, Prestonsburg and a pair of games in the Frank Bloom Invitational Tournament at Russell on March 28.
The Cardinals will lean heavily on senior Aidan Mann, a pitcher and infielder committed to the University of Pikeville, as one of the team’s top returning leaders.
Mann made an impact on the mound last season, going 2-2 with a 1.24 ERA over 17 innings, allowing just three earned runs while striking out 16.
Osborne said fellow seniors Dylan Spence and Hunter Moore will also play major roles in Martin County’s success this spring.
Moore appeared in 21 games as a hitter last season, batting .267 with 16 hits, while also logging 5.2 innings on the mound.
Martin County also brings back Knox Maynard, Caige Presley, Tyler Stacy and Dylan Hale, giving the Cardinals additional experience and depth.
Maynard was one of the Cardinals’ most-used pitchers a year ago, posting a 4-2 record with one save over 37.2 innings. Presley threw 12.2 innings and went 1-2, while Hale saw action both at the plate and on the mound, batting .286 with 20 hits and nine RBIs while also pitching 9.1 innings.
“As for newcomers, keep an eye on eighth grade infielder Gunner Broadus, as well as freshman starting catcher Noah Bowens,” Osborne said.
Another underclassman who already proved he can contribute is freshman Blake Lemaster, who played in 25 games last season and batted .270 with 20 hits, 18 runs scored and 14 walks.
The Cardinals’ schedule features several region and district challenges, including matchups with Paintsville, Magoffin County, Johnson Central, Lawrence County and Prestonsburg. Martin County will also face out-of-state competition later in the year with games against Tug Valley (WV), Symmes Valley (OH) and Wellston (OH).
Martin County’s game against Hazard starts at 6:30 p.m. at Cardinal Field.
Martin County Baseball 2026
March
March 18 — Hazard, home, 6:30 p.m.
March 19 — Floyd Central, away, 6 p.m.
March 21 — Tug Valley (WV), home, 6 p.m.
March 26 — Prestonsburg, away, 6:30 p.m.
March 28 — Russell, away, noon
March 28 — Huntington Expression Prep (WV), at Russell, 2:30 p.m.
March 30 — Boyd County, home, 6:30 p.m.
March 31 — Boyd County, away, 6:30 p.m.
April
April 3 — Russell, home, 6:30 p.m.
April 4 — Lewis County, away, 1 p.m.
April 4 — Estill County, at Lewis County, 3 p.m.
April 7 — Belfry, away, 6 p.m.
April 11 — Prestonsburg, home, 1 p.m.
April 14 — Paintsville, home, 6 p.m.
April 15 — Paintsville, away, 6 p.m.
April 18 — Knott County Central, at Alice Lloyd, 11 a.m.
April 18 — Lawrence County, at Alice Lloyd, 1:30 p.m.
April 20 — Magoffin County, away, 6 p.m.
April 21 — Magoffin County, home, 6 p.m.
April 23 — Pike County Central, home, 6:30 p.m.
April 25 — Fairview, at Ashland Central Park, noon
April 27 — East Carter, away, 6:30 p.m.
April 28 — Johnson Central, home, 6 p.m.
April 29 — Johnson Central, away, 6 p.m.
May
May 1 — East Ridge, home, 6:30 p.m.
May 4 — Floyd Central, home, 6 p.m.
May 5 — Lawrence County, home, 6 p.m.
May 7 — Morgan County, home, 6:30 p.m.
May 8 — Tug Valley (WV), at Tug Valley, 6 p.m.
May 9 — Symmes Valley (OH), at Symmes Valley, 1 p.m.
May 9 — Wellston (OH), at Symmes Valley, 4 p.m.
May 11 — Powell County, away, 7 p.m.
May 12 — Morgan County, away, 6:30 p.m.
May 15 — Hazard, away, 6:30 p.m.