BY BOO NEWSOME
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
PAINTSVILLE — Martin County softball lost two district contests on the road last week. The Lady Cards dropped a 15-0 decision to Johnson Central and fell 10-5 to Paintsville.
Below is a recap of both games.
MC vs. JC
Johnson Central’s ace Madelyn Vaughn got the 15-0 win on the mound April 10 over Martin County. Vaughn threw a no-hitter in three innings, striking out seven batters.
The Lady Cardinals went three up and three down to start the first inning.
Adyson Burchett had two hits in the inning for the Eagles, a single and a triple. Carrigan Ratliff, Delong and Vaughn each recorded a hit in the inning. The Lady Cards gave up three walks in the inning and committed two errors. Johnson Central completed the order and jumped out 8-0 in the bottom of the first inning.
Johnson Central did quick work in the second inning, recording five hits and seven runs to put this one out of reach. The Lady Cards went three up and three down in the second and third innings.
Johnson Central had 15 runs on 10 hits for the game.
Zoie Hinkle took the loss for the Lady Cardinals. The pitcher gave up 10 hits while striking out three batters and walking three.
MC vs. PHS
Martin County played the second district game in three days Thursday and took a 10-5 loss to Paintsville.
Laney Bledsoe had a stellar day in the circle for the Tigers. She kept the Lady Cards off the bases allowing two hits for the game and striking out eight.
Bella Muncy recorded a single in the first inning for the Lady Cards.
Paintsville scored three runs on four hits and a walk in the bottom of the first.
Brynnalyn Smith started the second inning with a single for Martin County. The Lady Cards could not get the bats going, leaving another runner on base.
Paintsville pushed four runs across the plate in the bottom of the second on three walks and two doubles by the Music sisters Molly and Maggie. The score was 7-0 going into the third inning.
Lady Cards pitcher Zoie Hinkle retired the next six Paintsville hitters, three up and three down in the third and fourth, to keep the Lady Cards alive.
Paintsville struck again in the fifth to score three runs and end the game.
Zoie Hinkle took the loss for the Lady Cards giving up 10 runs on 11 hits, striking out two and walking four.
“We are just in a very tough part of our schedule right now and are struggling at the plate,” Martin County coach Josh Horn said.
