BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
PAINTSVILLE — The 606 Firecrackers out of Martin County finished pool play unbeaten and posted a 2-1 record July 18 at the Coal Country 12U Classic at Johnson Central High School.
The Firecrackers, coached by Jayla Dials, Aaron Moore, Jim Bob Nolen and Bailey Dials, defeated EKY Heat and Appalachian Heat before falling to Savage in bracket play.
Coalfield Fury also competed in the tournament.
Firecrackers 15, EKY Heat 1
The Firecrackers came out swinging in the tournament opener and rolled past EKY Heat 15-1.
Cheyanna Evans delivered a strong performance in the circle, striking out five batters. She also crossed the plate twice to help her own cause.
Harper Cornett, Kenleigh Estep, Arielle Jude and Kaylee Nolen each scored two runs. Emma Castle, Brylee Davidson, Brystol Dillon, Sarah McCoy and Hope Dials each added one run.
Firecrackers 6, App Heat 5
The Firecrackers erased a five-run deficit and walked off Appalachian Heat 6-5 in their second pool-play contest.
Appalachian Heat jumped in front 5-0 in the top of the first inning. The red, white and blue wasted little time beginning its comeback.
Estep delivered the big swing in the bottom of the first. She drove in an inside-the-park home run that brought home two runs.
The Firecrackers pulled even in the second behind doubles from Estep and Castle and an RBI single from Evans.
With the score tied 5-5 in the bottom of the fourth, the winning run raced home on a steal to complete the comeback and send the Firecrackers into bracket play with a 2-0 record.
Estep powered the offense by going 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, three RBIs and two runs. Cornett finished 2-for-2 with a double, a triple, two runs and one walk.
Castle went 1-for-2 with a double, one RBI and one run. Evans finished 1-for-1 with one RBI and one walk, while Nolen went 1-for-1 and drew a walk.
Dials walked and scored once. Davidson also drew one walk.
The Firecrackers totaled seven hits, six runs, five RBIs and five walks. They also swiped eight bases. Dials stole three, Cornett and Evans took two apiece and Davidson added one.
Cornett went the distance in the circle. She allowed five runs on five hits over four innings. She struck out six and walked two.
Savage 13, Firecrackers 4
Savage used an eight-run second inning to pull away for a 13-4 victory over the Firecrackers in bracket play.
Castle put the 606 squad on the board with an RBI single in the bottom of the first inning. Savage answered with eight runs on seven hits in the top of the second to take control.
The Firecrackers continued to battle. They scored twice in the third and once in the fourth.
Cornett led the offense with a 2-for-2 performance that included a double, a triple and two runs. Castle went 2-for-2 with two RBIs.
Evans finished 2-for-2 at the plate. Davidson and Nolen each smacked a hit and Nolen also scored one run.
Estep drove in one run. Dials walked and scored once. Dillon also drew a walk.
The Firecrackers collected eight hits, four runs, three RBIs and two walks. Davidson, Dillon and Nolen stole two bases apiece. Evans swiped one for a team total of seven.
Evans started in the circle and allowed five runs on four hits over one inning. She walked one batter.
Cornett worked the final three innings. She allowed eight runs on 10 hits and struck out four and walked one.