BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — The winners of the East KY Youth Athletics MLB Hit, Pitch, and Run received great news last week. Their winning scores from June 22 have qualified them for the team championship to be held at the Great American Ballpark, home of the Cincinnati Reds, on Aug. 3.

Over 25 athletes from Martin County and 90 from the East Region participated in the event.

All winners from Inez had top scores in the entire region.

The following are winners: Skyler Green, Harleigh Maynard, Jace McCoy, Rocco Maynard, Rylie Parks, Waylon Porter and McKenslee Noble.

EKY Youth Athletics founder Kenny Maynard is elated for the kids.

“The experiences and opportunities that these athletes will have at The Great American Ballpark are exactly why I started this nonprofit. To see the excitement in their eyes, the determination in their faces, as they prepare to take on the best of the best is truly inspiring,” said Maynard.

EKYYA is a new foundation that hosts basketball, baseball, softball and flag football events for various age groups.

The opportunity for youth in this area to attend this event is a first of its kind for Martin County.

“This is a moment that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives, a memory that will bring a smile to their faces whenever they think back on it. And who knows, maybe this is just the beginning of their journey to success in the world of baseball.”

Winners from Cincinnati will have a chance to compete at the MLB World Series.