Riley Martin Homers, Drives In 5 Runs To Lead Smith County Past York Institute, 12-2

By Michael Lindsay

The Smith County Owls improved to 7-0 in District 6-2A play Monday afternoon as they defeated York Institute in 5 innings, 12-2.

Four Owls collected two hits each led by University of Alabama commit Riley Martin, who went 2-4 with a two-run home run, a double, 5 RBIs and 3 runs scored. Cole Hackett, Ethan Montgomery and Jacob Lapham also recorded two hits each for the Owls as Montgomery recorded a pair of doubles and two RBIs.

Brody Choate led York Institute at the plate as he went 1-3 with a double and 2 RBIs.

Smith County pitcher Jaden Preston recorded the win as he struck out 5 batters while allowing 5 hits and 1 walk in 4 innings pitched.

The Owls got on the board in the bottom of the first inning as a sacrifice fly by Max Long and double by Montgomery scored Hackett and Martin to give Smith County a 2-0 lead.

York Institute tied the game in the top of the third inning as Choate delivered a bases-loaded double to the left-field gap to score two runs and tie the game at 2-2.

Smith County regained the lead in the bottom of the third as Martin delivered a two-run homer to center field to give his team a 4-2 lead.

Martin broke the game open again in the bottom of the fourth as he hit a bases-clearing double to center, scoring Morgan Sinclair, Ben Howell and Hackett to give the Owls a 7-2 lead. Smith County wasn’t done in the fourth as singles by Long, Lapham, Drake Brown and Walker Hackett scored a run each to give Smith County an 11-2 lead entering the fifth.

Smith County put the game away in the bottom of the frame as a Montgomery double scored Hackett to make the final score 12-2 via mercy rule.

Up next for the Owls is a home game against Cannon County on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.