BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

Martin County Middle School opened its baseball season with a split in its first two games. The Cards took down Belfry 6-1 on March 19 before falling to Adams 10-1 on March 23 to begin the year 1-1.

Kooper Sturgill set the tone in the opener, going 2-for-2 with a triple, three runs scored, one walk and two stolen bases. Mayson Phillips went 1-for-2 with one run scored, one RBI and four stolen bases. Beckam Spaulding finished 1-for-1, scored a run, walked once and stole four bases.

Blaine Williams added a hit, an RBI and a stolen base for Martin County. Ryder Little went 1-for-2 with three stolen bases. Jonah Mills finished 1-for-2, and Hank Reed scored a run, walked once and stole a base. Bennie Marcum also swiped a base.

Martin County’s pitching staff kept Belfry in check throughout the opener. Sturgill struck out three and allowed no hits or runs in one inning. Williams struck out one and allowed one run on one hit in an inning. Mills fanned four and allowed two hits without giving up a run. Brock Fields struck out three and surrendered two hits and no runs.

The Cardinals could not carry that momentum into their second game, falling 10-1 to Adams on Monday.

Sturgill again led Martin County at the plate, going 1-for-2, scoring the team’s lone run, drawing a walk and stealing three bases. Phillips had a hit and a stolen base, Mills went 1-for-2 with a stolen base, and Fields added a 1-for-2 effort.

Martin County was scheduled to play Johnson Central on March 24. The Cards will play Paintsville at 6 p.m. March 26.