BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
RUSSELL — After a difficult start to the week, the Cardinals broke through in a big way Saturday. Martin County erupted in a 19-5 five-inning win over Huntington Expression Prep at the Frank Bloom Invitational to secure their first victory of the 2026 season. The Cards had dropped three games to Prestonsburg (9-2), Russell (10-0), and East Carter (24-7) before the win.
Martin County (1-5) came out aggressively from the first inning and never let up.
Dylan Hale smacked a single to start the bats for the Cards. He stole two bases to reach third and Hunter Moore and Caige Presley loaded the bases with a free walk. Knox Maynard took a pitch to score the first run.
With runners in scoring position, Noah Bowens delivered one of the first big swings of the game on a line drive single to left field that drove in two runs. Maynard tacked on another when he stole home on a passed ball.
Gunner Broaddus singled on a ground ball to center field to score Brayden Hammond and Skyler Green.
After finding their way back to the top of the lineup in the first inning, Hale connected for another single to score Tyler Stacy. Moore drove in Broaddus to give the Cards an 8-0 lead.
That approach carried into the middle innings, where the Cardinals broke the game open.
With traffic on the bases nearly every inning, Martin County continued to cash in. Broaddus finished 3-for-5 with a double and a team-high five RBIs.
Stacy set the tone all game long, going 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and a walk while scoring four runs.
The Cardinals kept the line moving throughout the lineup.
Moore went a perfect 2-for-2 with two RBIs and a walk. Bowens matched him at 2-for-2 with two RBIs and a stolen base.
Hale added two hits, an RBI and a stolen base. Stacy contributed a hit, two RBIs, a walk and two stolen bases.
Even without hits, Martin County created offense.
Hammond drew three walks and scored three runs. Maynard reached base twice, scored twice, drove in a run and added a stolen base.
In total, the Cardinals racked up 16 hits, drew 10 walks and stole nine bases.
On the mound, Martin County pieced together a strong outing.
Senior Aidan Mann allowed one run on two hits with a strikeout in one inning of work. Broaddus followed with two hitless innings, striking out four and walking one. Stacy earned the win, striking out four over two innings while allowing five hits, four runs and just one earned run.
The breakout performance came after a challenging stretch to open the week.
Martin County dropped a 24-7 decision to East Carter on March 25 despite jumping out to a 5-1 lead at the end of the first inning. A 14-0 explosion for the Raiders in the seventh inning was too much for the Cards to overcome.
Dylan Spence led the offense, batting 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Maynard added a hit and two RBIs. Broaddus went 1-for-1 with an RBI and a walk. Hale and Stacy each recorded a hit, with Hale also stealing a base, and Moore driving in a run.
Presley added a walk and scored a run, but the Cardinals struck out nine times and struggled to keep pace.
On the mound, Martin County allowed 16 hits and 24 runs, with Aidan Mann allowing seven runs over three innings. Maynard followed and allowed eight runs, though none were earned, over three innings with three strikeouts. Green and Stacy also saw time in relief as East Carter broke the game open with multiple big innings.
The Cardinals followed with a 9-2 loss at Prestonsburg on March 27, finishing with eight hits, four walks and four stolen bases but leaving runners on base.
Bowens went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Moore also collected two hits. Presley finished 1-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored. Hale added a hit and a walk, and Broaddus and Maynard each recorded a hit. Spence drove in a run.
Despite the steady production, Martin County struck out four times and could not deliver in key moments as Prestonsburg gradually pulled away.
Moore started on the mound, allowing six runs, three earned, on five hits with four walks and one strikeout over three innings. Hale pitched three innings in relief, allowing three runs, two earned, on four hits with two walks and one strikeout.
Earlier Saturday, the Cardinals were shut out 10-0 in five innings by Russell.
Martin County managed just four hits and two walks while striking out seven times.
Broaddus led the effort with a perfect 2-for-2 performance. Hammond and Moore each added a hit. Presley and Spence drew walks, but the Cardinals were unable to string together production.
Presley started and worked 3 1/3 innings, allowing seven runs, though only two were earned, on four hits with five walks and three strikeouts. Green pitched one inning in relief, allowing three earned runs on two hits with two walks and one strikeout.
Martin County was scheduled to play Boyd County in a home-and-away series the past two nights. On April 1, the Cards will host Tug Valley at 6 p.m. and on April 3, Russell. The squad plays in the Lewis County Triangle over the weekend. The Cards play in the first round of the All ‘A’ 15th Region, April 6, against Belfry.