6/17/2009 6:00:00 PM Martin family stays busy with sports
By STEVE SWOGETINSKY Sports Editor
Dr. Craig Martin keeps up a busy pace and that's the way he likes it.
When he's not working in his dental office, located on the corner of Highway 16 and Golf Course Road, he's usually coaching one of his children's sports teams as the family stays on the run.
"That's the way we like it," Martin said. "If we aren't getting ready to go to the park or going to church, we are probably getting ready to go to a softball tournament. There isn't a lot of free time."
He and his wife, Amy, have three children: Meg (10), Will (6), and Seth (3). Meg plays softball and Will has completed his baseball season. In the off season, the family plays soccer.
"In addition to the leagues, we have played tournament ball," Martin said. "That starts in April and usually runs through July. During that time, we will play three to four weekend tournaments a week."
Tournament ball may seem like a lot but Martin said it's really a family event.
"We have grandparents, parents and other family members following the team," Martin said. "Everyone enjoys it. We are playing a tournament on Father's Day. And we played a tournament last Mother's Day. My wife said she couldn't think of a better way to spend Mother's Day then with her family."
Martin coaches the Xplosion 10-and-under softball team along with Jason Hall, Tim Harrison and Devon Marshall.
"We don't have a head coach," Martin said. "We use the 'four heads are better than one' approach. We just work together and everything has been fine.
"Like this week. I am at a dental convention and the other three coaches are practicing with the team. We'll meet up Saturday in Clinton for the tournament."
Martin talked about what the new facilities at Northside Park have meant to the people who use it, and what it will mean in the future.
"We hosted a tournament here back in April and people are still talking about it," Martin said. "We had teams from all over the state come in for the weekend. They were very impressed with our facilities and have been asking when we are going to have another tournament here."
Martin is a life-long resident of Neshoba County. After finishing at Philadelphia High School in 1989, he went to East Central Community College for two years where he met his wife.
He attended Mississippi State University for a year and then attended dental school at the University of Mississippi Medical Central in Jackson. After school, he worked four years as an associate before opening his own practice in Philadelphia in December 2000.
In addition to his work and his sports, Martin likes to hunt and play golf, but both have taken a backseat to softball in recent years. He has never missed a Fair but could miss a few days this week because of the World Series in Southaven.
"We have missed the first couple of days because of tournaments in the past couple of years," Martin said. "And we may miss a couple of days this year. But that's okay. We'll make it for most of the Fair."
