BY BRADY DANIELS
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
Martin County dropped two games on the road last week to Johnson Central 15-0 and Prestonsburg 8-3.
Below is a recap of the action.
MC vs. JC
Martin County fell behind early and could not come back in a 15-0 loss to Johnson Central in a game April 27 at Eagle Field.
The Cardinals struggled to contain the high-powered offense of Johnson Central giving up 15 runs.
Johnson Central got things started in the first inning as Lemaster doubled and drove in one. The Eagles would score three in the first, one in the second, 10 in the third and one in the fourth to shut the Cardinals down.
A positive for Martin County came when Cheek singled in the first inning.
Conner Lemaster pitched Johnson Central to the victory.
Chase Stacy started at the mound for the Cardinals, lasting two innings and giving up nine runs on five hits. Evan Crum came in for one inning and gave up five runs on four hits. Dawson Mills pitched an inning and gave up one run.
Cheek led Martin County in hits going 2-2 at the plate. Chase Preece and Greyden Proctor had one hit apiece.
Johnson Central collected six hits on the day. Brock Butcher and Lemaster all managed multiple hits.
MC vs. Pburg
Martin County out-hit Prestonsburg 5-4 but it was not enough in an 8-3 loss Saturday at Stonecrest.
Martin County got on the board in the first inning as Chase Preece singled on a 2-2 count, scoring one run.
The Cardinals had a 2-1 lead after the first frame.
Martin County’s Greyden Proctor induced Matt Welch to hit into a fielder’s choice in the fourth, but Prestonsburg pulled away for good with two runs.
Prestonsburg added four runs in the bottom of the fifth and Martin County scored in the top of the sixth on a Dawson Mills slide throw home.
Welch took the win for Prestonsburg. The fireballer went four and a third innings, allowing two runs on four hits, striking out four and walking zero. Jaxon Goble threw two and two-thirds innings in relief out of the bullpen.
Dennison Davis took the loss for Martin County. The righthander lasted two innings, allowing four hits and five runs while strike out one. Proctor started the game for the Cardinals. He went four innings, allowing three runs on zero hits and striking out two.
Preece led Martin County with two hits on three at-bats and two RBIs. Damian Cheek, Mills and Proctor each had a hit while Proctor batted in one.
Mills scored two runs and Cheek scored one.
With the loss, Martin County dropped to 7-11 overall on the season.
The Cardinals have a full schedule this week. They hosted Johnson Central Monday before hitting the road Tuesday to Elliott County. Martin County will host Tolsia Thursday on “Senior Night” and travel Friday to Floyd Central and Saturday to Belfry.
The Cardinals’ last home game will be Monday against Pike County Central.
Martin County will finish the regular season with two games on the road, May 10 at Shelby Valley and May 13 at East Ridge.
