frederick national little league
2001 - 2010
• • 2001 • •
9-10 MD District 2 Champions
Front row:
Eric Joos
Bret Abrecht
Mike Brosius
George Bucheimer
Corey Wood
Jordan Grazdan
Back row:
Coach Dave Fogle
Ian Hahn
Branden Kline
David Hornstein
Tim Wills
Mgr Danny Miller
July 11, 2001
In other Little League action today, the District 2 11-12 Tournament begins. One game is scheduled in the city with Frederick American hosting Four-County at 6 pm, at Austin F. Angleberger Memorial Stadium, Thurmont hosts Brunswick and Frederick National and East Frederick have byes today.
July 14, 2001
Thurmont tops National
Thurmont's Michael Topper showed everyone Friday his bat is just as good as his pitching arm. Topper who struck out 10 batters in an 8-3 win over Brunswick Wednesday, ended a marathon-like game against Frederick National with a three-run home run in the top of the ninth inning, breaking a 3- 3 tie, giving Thurmont a 6-3 win in the second round of the District 2 11-12 Little League Tournament at Robert B. Staley Stadium. Thurmont is 2-0 in Pool I and Frederick National is 0-1. Thurmont hosts Frederick American at 6 p.m., Monday, in third-round play and Frederick National travels to Brunswick. East Frederick, playing in Pool II, plays at New Windsor at 6 p.m., Monday. East Frederick lost, 18-8, to Westminster American on Friday. With the score tied at 3 in the top of the ninth, Corey Myers drew a leadoff walk and moved to second when Brian Woodward reached base on an error, which brought Topper to the plate. He got into an 0- 1 fastball offering from Frederick National pitcher Tom Wachter and sent it over the wall in center field for the three-run homer. But Topper would not have gotten his chance to deliver the game winning shot had it not been for Myers' two-out single and Woodward's double, both in the top of the sixth. Thurmont was down to its final pitch as Myers singled up the middle on a full count. Woodward followed with a double to the wall in center and Myers was waved around third, scoring the lying-run. While Topper led the way for Thurmont on the mound Wednesday, it was Woodward's turn Friday against Frederick National. He struck out 15 batters with four walks in going all nine innings. Topper, Myers and Colton Eureka all had two hits for Thurmont. Wachter went the distance on the mound as well for Frederick National with six strikeouts and one walk Henry Droneburg led Frederick National with two hits.
July 17, 2001
District 11-12
Brunswick 9, Frederick National 7
Brunswick won a see-saw battle with Frederick National by scoring three runs in the top of the sixth inning Brunswick led 5-1 in the fourth inning, but relinquished the advantage to Frederick National and trailed 7-6 in the fifth. Seth Haines picked up the win in relief, setting Frederick down in the bottom of the sixth. Russell Rife collected three hits - a single, double and a home run for Brunswick- Chris Burriss had a home run amongst his two hits while Aaron Main picked up two hits for Brunswick.
July 19, 2001
Russell Rife and Chris Burris hit home runs, but Rife saved the best for last, punching out a 3-run double to break a 7-7 deadlock and make the Railroader All-Stars 9-7 winners over Frederick National in the final game of District pool play. BRLL finished with a 3-1 record in pool play. Frederick had a 1-0 lead when the Railroaders came to bat in the fourth inning. With Brian Kidd and Chris Wilkins on base, Burris crushed a 2-1 pitch over the centerfield fence to put BRLL up 3-1. Brunswick added two more runs in the inning for a 5-1 advantage. Rife hit a solo home run in the fifth to make 6-1 entering ther Nationals half of the fifth. Eleven Frederick hitters came to bat scoring 6 runs on 7 hits, putting the Nationals up 7-6 after five innings. In the top of the sixth the Railroaders loaded the bases before Rife stroked a 1-1 pitch down the left field line for a bases clearing double. Seth Haines replaced starting pitcher Christopher Porter to get the save. Porter hurled the first 5 innings and was reached for 7 runs and 11 hits. He struck out 4 and walked 3. Haines allowed no runs on 1 hit while striking out 2. Rife finished with 3 hits in 4 at bats with 3 RBI's. Burris had 2 hits and 3 RBI's. Last week organizers discovered something drastically wrong in Little League baseball's all-star round-robin pool play, a rule added this year that was not brought to anyone's attention until after the Railroaders were told they would advance to the tourney's semi-final round. Then the rule was located and executed, and because of it Brunswick was out of the District II playoffs. Brunswick, Thurmont and Frederick American all finished with 3-1 records. Normally the top two teams advance but since there was a 3 way tie, the first tiebreaker is head to head but all 3 teams took turns beating each other. Thurmont beat Brunswick 8-3. Brunswick beat American 3-1. Frederick then thrashed Thurmont 13-3. The next tiebreaker is how many runs allowed defensively which would seem to knock out Thurmont. Originally Brunswick was awarded the second slot. But 24 hours later, it was determined that the new tiebreaking rule would eliminate Brunswick instead. The new rule as written states "If there is a three-way tie, and no clear winner can be determined on head to head competition, then the total number of runs given up in all pool play games, divided by the number of innings played on defense, is computed for each of the 3 teams involved in the tie. The one team with the lowest run differential advances. The second team to advance would be based on the head to head result between the two remaining teams". So after rule two determined that Frederick would advance, instead of going further under rule two they went back to rule one and looked at the Brunswick-Thurmont game again. Thurmont won by 5 runs and they received the second slot even though they allowed the most runs during pool play.
2001 – Easton
District 2 Champions
Frederick American
Tournament Results:
District Round:
Frederick National vs Thurmont lost 6-3
Frederick National vs Brunswick lost 9-7
9-10 MD District 2 Champions
Front row:
Eric Joos
Bret Abrecht
Mike Brosius
George Bucheimer
Corey Wood
Jordan Grazdan
Back row:
Coach Dave Fogle
Ian Hahn
Branden Kline
David Hornstein
Tim Wills
Mgr Danny Miller
July 11, 2001
In other Little League action today, the District 2 11-12 Tournament begins. One game is scheduled in the city with Frederick American hosting Four-County at 6 pm, at Austin F. Angleberger Memorial Stadium, Thurmont hosts Brunswick and Frederick National and East Frederick have byes today.
July 14, 2001
Thurmont tops National
Thurmont's Michael Topper showed everyone Friday his bat is just as good as his pitching arm. Topper who struck out 10 batters in an 8-3 win over Brunswick Wednesday, ended a marathon-like game against Frederick National with a three-run home run in the top of the ninth inning, breaking a 3- 3 tie, giving Thurmont a 6-3 win in the second round of the District 2 11-12 Little League Tournament at Robert B. Staley Stadium. Thurmont is 2-0 in Pool I and Frederick National is 0-1. Thurmont hosts Frederick American at 6 p.m., Monday, in third-round play and Frederick National travels to Brunswick. East Frederick, playing in Pool II, plays at New Windsor at 6 p.m., Monday. East Frederick lost, 18-8, to Westminster American on Friday. With the score tied at 3 in the top of the ninth, Corey Myers drew a leadoff walk and moved to second when Brian Woodward reached base on an error, which brought Topper to the plate. He got into an 0- 1 fastball offering from Frederick National pitcher Tom Wachter and sent it over the wall in center field for the three-run homer. But Topper would not have gotten his chance to deliver the game winning shot had it not been for Myers' two-out single and Woodward's double, both in the top of the sixth. Thurmont was down to its final pitch as Myers singled up the middle on a full count. Woodward followed with a double to the wall in center and Myers was waved around third, scoring the lying-run. While Topper led the way for Thurmont on the mound Wednesday, it was Woodward's turn Friday against Frederick National. He struck out 15 batters with four walks in going all nine innings. Topper, Myers and Colton Eureka all had two hits for Thurmont. Wachter went the distance on the mound as well for Frederick National with six strikeouts and one walk Henry Droneburg led Frederick National with two hits.
July 17, 2001
District 11-12
Brunswick 9, Frederick National 7
Brunswick won a see-saw battle with Frederick National by scoring three runs in the top of the sixth inning Brunswick led 5-1 in the fourth inning, but relinquished the advantage to Frederick National and trailed 7-6 in the fifth. Seth Haines picked up the win in relief, setting Frederick down in the bottom of the sixth. Russell Rife collected three hits - a single, double and a home run for Brunswick- Chris Burriss had a home run amongst his two hits while Aaron Main picked up two hits for Brunswick.
July 19, 2001
Russell Rife and Chris Burris hit home runs, but Rife saved the best for last, punching out a 3-run double to break a 7-7 deadlock and make the Railroader All-Stars 9-7 winners over Frederick National in the final game of District pool play. BRLL finished with a 3-1 record in pool play. Frederick had a 1-0 lead when the Railroaders came to bat in the fourth inning. With Brian Kidd and Chris Wilkins on base, Burris crushed a 2-1 pitch over the centerfield fence to put BRLL up 3-1. Brunswick added two more runs in the inning for a 5-1 advantage. Rife hit a solo home run in the fifth to make 6-1 entering ther Nationals half of the fifth. Eleven Frederick hitters came to bat scoring 6 runs on 7 hits, putting the Nationals up 7-6 after five innings. In the top of the sixth the Railroaders loaded the bases before Rife stroked a 1-1 pitch down the left field line for a bases clearing double. Seth Haines replaced starting pitcher Christopher Porter to get the save. Porter hurled the first 5 innings and was reached for 7 runs and 11 hits. He struck out 4 and walked 3. Haines allowed no runs on 1 hit while striking out 2. Rife finished with 3 hits in 4 at bats with 3 RBI's. Burris had 2 hits and 3 RBI's. Last week organizers discovered something drastically wrong in Little League baseball's all-star round-robin pool play, a rule added this year that was not brought to anyone's attention until after the Railroaders were told they would advance to the tourney's semi-final round. Then the rule was located and executed, and because of it Brunswick was out of the District II playoffs. Brunswick, Thurmont and Frederick American all finished with 3-1 records. Normally the top two teams advance but since there was a 3 way tie, the first tiebreaker is head to head but all 3 teams took turns beating each other. Thurmont beat Brunswick 8-3. Brunswick beat American 3-1. Frederick then thrashed Thurmont 13-3. The next tiebreaker is how many runs allowed defensively which would seem to knock out Thurmont. Originally Brunswick was awarded the second slot. But 24 hours later, it was determined that the new tiebreaking rule would eliminate Brunswick instead. The new rule as written states "If there is a three-way tie, and no clear winner can be determined on head to head competition, then the total number of runs given up in all pool play games, divided by the number of innings played on defense, is computed for each of the 3 teams involved in the tie. The one team with the lowest run differential advances. The second team to advance would be based on the head to head result between the two remaining teams". So after rule two determined that Frederick would advance, instead of going further under rule two they went back to rule one and looked at the Brunswick-Thurmont game again. Thurmont won by 5 runs and they received the second slot even though they allowed the most runs during pool play.
2001 – Easton
District 2 Champions
Frederick American
Tournament Results:
District Round:
Frederick National vs Thurmont lost 6-3
Frederick National vs Brunswick lost 9-7
• • 2002 • •
July 8, 2002
National beats Thurmont
LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL
11-12 District II
Ian Hahn threw an abbreviated two-hitter with 11 strikeouts to lead Frederick National to an 11-1 win over Thurmont on Sunday. National beat Westminster American. 14-9, on Saturday. National's Danny Foit had three hits, including a homer, in Sunday's game, while Hahn had two hits. In Saturday's game. J.D. Jones had two hits, including a homer. Foit and Stephen Shriner both homered.
July 11, 2002
LL Play Continues
Frederick National visits Taneytown at 6 p.m. Friday in the third and final game of its round-robin series.
July 12, 2002
In Little League District 2 action today, pool play continues in the 11-12 division with East Frederick hosting Frederick American, Brunswick plays at Westminster National and Frederick National plays at Taneytown. All games begin at 6 p.m.
July 13, 2002 – NO PAPER ON ARCHIVES
July 15, 2002
American, National draw top LL seeds
Frederick American and Frederick National have drawn top seeds in their respective pools in the semi-finals of the District 2 11-12 Little League Tournament today and both have home field advantage for those semifinal games. Both city teams went undefeated through last week's pool play with Frederick American winning Pool A at 3-0 and Frederick National winning Pool B with a 4-0 mark. Frederick American clinched its top seed Saturday with a 5-3 win over Westminster National at Austin F. Angleberger Memorial Stadium. Frederick National had already clinched its top seed Friday. Frederick National hosts Westminster National, the second-seed from the B Pool, at 6 p.m. today at Robert B. Staley Stadium. Meanwhile, Frederick American hosts Westminster American at 6 p.m. today at Angleberger Stadium in the other semifinal game. The winners inert for the district championship at 6 p.m. Tuesday at a site to be determined after today's semifinal games.
July 16, 2002
LL finals - Nationals fall
Westminster National 4, Frederick National 3
In a matter of minutes, everything collapsed around Frederick National. The city team, which has not won a district title since 1998 was leading 2-1 with one out in last of the sixth when Westminster Nationa1 made its move. Andrew Feild drew a walk off Frederick National's Frank Zier and Justin Geho went to left with a single to put Feild at second. Derek Bonne then hit a long fly to right and both runners tagged successfully. Then, with two outs. Phil Ruzbarsky, who had gone 0-for-2 in three previous trips to the plate, singled to right center to drive in the game-winning runs. Frederick took advantage of the combination of three Westminster errors and a wild pitch to score three unearned runs. Frederick scored single runs in the second, third and fourth and had a 3-2 lead in the sixth when Westminster scored to win the game Ruzbarsky held Frederick to three hits with 13 strikeouts and five walks. Ruzbarsky, Zaeh Wolfe and Geho each had two hits.
2002 - South Caroline (Preston)
District 2 Champions
Frederick American
Tournament Results:
District Round:
Frederick National vs Westminster American won 11-9
Frederick National vs Thurmont won 11-1
Frederick National vs Taneytown won
Frederick National vs Westminster National lost 4-3
• • 2003 • •
2003 - West Salisbury
District 2 Champions
Thurmont
Tournament Results:
District Round:
Frederick National vs
Frederick National vs
Frederick National vs
Frederick National vs
• • 2004 • •
July 7, 2004
E. Frederick wins
The East Frederick 11-12 year old Little League All-Star team got off on the right foot in District II play Tuesday night. They banged out 18 hits and Stephen Hammerick tossed a three-hitter with seven strikeouts to move them to 1-0 in the district tournament. Sean Brennen and Micky Burks each hit a home run and had four hits, while Hammerle and Jimmy Dickson each banged out two hits. East Frederick jumped on top early with five runs in the first, three of which came on Burks' long ball and six in both the second and third. Brennen’s bomb came in the fourth-and final inning. East Frederick now plays at Frederick National on Thursday at 6 pm.
July 8, 2004
Nationals Win
THURMONT - Branden Kline threw a one-hitter with nine strikeouts to lead Frederick National to a win. Kline also had two hits, including a double, and Erich Dylus had two hits. National will host East Frederick today at 6 p.m.
July 9, 2004
National: Wins
(Continued from B-1)
After the second, the momentum changed hands and National scored three runs in the third to regain the lead for good. Kline and Jack Rentschler each had RBI hits in the inning and in the fourth. National all but put the game away with three more runs on two hits and two East Frederick errors to take an 8-2 lead. "Our kids came to play today—we're not capable of doing it all the time—but it was nice to see today" said Miller. "(East Frederick) is still probably the team to beat in the District but we threw a guy today that mixed it up pretty well." Burks was East Frederick's lone multiple hitter with a 2-for-2 day and Zach Jones suffered the toss. Despite the loss, East Frederick also advances into the District II playoffs with a 1-1 record and will play on the road Monday. "We have a game Monday so we have to stay focused for that," said Long. "We have to be optimistic, we just ran into good pitching today and there's nothing you can do about that"
July 11, 2004
Frederick National visits Taneytown at 6 p.m. Friday in the third and final game of its round-robin series.
July 12, 2004
In Frederick American's 6-3 win over Frederick National in the semifinals Wednesday, Briggs gave up five hits. Macierowsto had a three run double and Main had two hits.
In Little League District 2 action today.
Pool play continues in the 11-12 division with East Frederick hosting Frederick American, Brunswick plays at Westminster National and Frederick National plays at Taneytown. All games begin at 6 p.m.
July 13, 2004
National advances
Frederick National used its offensive firepower to move into the Maryland District II 11-12 year old Little League finals with a 14 hit attack Monday night to beat Westminster, 11-7. The first five hitters in National's line-up accounted for nine runs and nine hits to move into tonight's final at East Frederick — which beat Brunswick in the other semifinal 12-5 — to determine the representative in next week's state tournament in Williamsport National's No 3 and 4 hitters did most of the damage Erich Dylus, who hit third, led National with three hits, including a two-run homer, and drove in four runs. He also worked five innings and struck out six to pick up the win. Brandon Kline followed Dylus with three RBIs and a two-run homer in the fourth. "Our best hitters are in the top of our lineup and they were patient tonight”, National manager Danny Miller said. "They put together some good at-bats against a deliberate pitcher. Although National won, Miller wasn't too pleased with the effort. To beat East Frederick for a second time, he knows his team will need to be on its game. "We didn't play very well and Westminster swung the bats against us." Miller said. "We have to put it all together {Tuesday). Hopefully, our kids won't be looking back to last week (when National beat East Frederick. 12-2)." National took an early lead in the top of the first on three runs, two of which came on Dylus’ blast to center, and added another in the third for a 4-0 lead. After Westminster cut its deficit in half in the bottom of the third Kline quickly helped National respond in the fourth with his second homer in as many games. His blast to deep-center gave National a 6-2 advantage. Matt Schultz hit a solo shot in the fourth for Westminster to cut the National lead to 6-3 and then the excitement began. National plated five runs on five hits in the fifth to take a comfortable 11-3 lead. But after Westminster scored three in the fifth, things got interesting in the last of the sixth. Kline came on to relieve Dylus in the sixth and got two quick outs before running into trouble. Zac Thomas and Tyler Cheatham walked and Justin Sowinski loaded the bases with a single to right. An error scored Thomas to make the score 11-7 and brought the tying run, Alex Geiman to the plate. Kline went after him and got Geiman to pop out in foul territory near the first base line, ending the game. Brian McShea. Brian Healy and Jack Rentschler 'Each had two hits for National while Sowinski had three for Westminster.
July 14, 2004
Walking off to district title
Jones' homer gives East crown
East Frederick's Zach Jones had the chance to be the hero and win the game for his teammates on Tuesday in the District 2 11-12 Little League championship. He didn't disappoint them. Jones, down to his last pitch on a 3-2 count in the last of the sixth inning and the score tied at 3, got all of the payoff pitch from Frederick National hurter Branden Kline and sent it far beyond the wall in center field for a walk off home run, giving the host team a 4-3 win and the district crown at Max Kehne Park It marks the first time in nearly 10 years East Frederick has won a district championship in this age group. The city team moves on to the state 11-12 little league Tournament beginning Saturday. July 24, at Williamsport in Washington County. East plays the District 6 representative (Upper Eastern Shore) at 3 pm, Saturday. July 24. in a first-round game. The tournament features seven teams, including East and is double elimination. With the score tied at 3 going into the last of the sixth, Jones, a right-hander, had just completed six innings of impressive pitching for East giving up four hits with two strikeouts, three walks and one earned run. Leading off the last of the sixth, Jones -waited out Kline for a good pitch before telling the game-winner, "That was the best two-strike swing I’ve ever seen," said East coach Rob Toggle, who was one of the first people to hug Jones after he crossed the plate. "1 did just what my coaches told me to do," Jones said. "Look for the good pitch. Anything close was to be swung at" In Jones" previous two appearances at the plate on Tuesday he grounded out to first base in the first and was hit by the pitch in the fourth. East loss to Frederick American two years ago in the district championship game was turned into a bad memory. In that game. a late-inning home run gave American the win. "'We had some unfinished business to take care of after that" Tuggle said. Before his home run. Jones' effort on the mound kept his team in the game. National, which beat East last week in pool play 12-2, took a 1-0 lead in the third on an RBI double from Kline.
2004 - South Caroline (Preston)
District 2 Champions
East Frederick
Tournament Results:
District Round:
Frederick National vs Thurmont won
Frederick National vs East Frederick won 12-2
Frederick National vs Taneytown won
Frederick National vs Westminster won 11-7
Frederick National vs East Frederick lost 4-3
• • 2005 • •
July 8, 2005
Two big innings help Frederick National win
Frederick National needed two big innings to get out of a slump in Thursday's opening game of the District 2 11-12 Little League Tournament at Robert B. Staley Stadium. Those innings were the third and fourth where National scored nine of its 10 runs on its way to a 10-5 win over crosstown-rival East Frederick. Both teams are scheduled to be in action again today with National traveling to Thurmont for a 6 p.m. game and East Frederick hosting Four County at 5:45 p.m. at Max Kehne Park. But there is a strong possibility no games will be played today because of the heavy rains associated with the remains of Tropical Storm Cindy, which has been moving up the East coast this week. If that is the case, all scheduled District 2 tournament games will be rescheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday, district officials said on Thursday. National trailed East Frederick, 2-1, going into the last of the third inning when it sent nine batters to the plate and scored four runs on two hits to take a 5-2 lead. National took advantage of two East Frederick errors to put key runners in scoring position. E.J. Wrzesinski had a clutch RBI single in the third for National. East Frederick answered with three runs in the fourth to tie the score at 5. A leadoff home run by Nick Baker set the pace for the three run fourth. National came back in its half of the fourth, sending 10 batters to the plate, scoring five runs, and taking a 10-5 lead, which would stand as the final score in the end. Tyler Specht and Wrzesinski each had two hits for National. Specht had a double in the fourth. Austin McCrary pitched a complete-game victory, giving up seven hits with two strikeouts. For East Frederick, Dan Dixon had two hits with a double and Baker had two hits with his homer. Brian Chase added two hits for East Frederick.
July 9, 2005
LITTLE LEAGUE
District 2 11-12
THURMONT — Anthony Terpko doesn't mind playing the role of coming off the bench for Thurmont's 11-12 Little League all-star team, or where he bats in the lineup. In fact, he did in grand fashion on Friday. Terpko, batting in the eighth spot, slammed a one-out grand slam as part of a 10-run third inning for Thurmont and the host team routed Frederick National, 16-0, in the second day of the District 2 11-12 Little league Tournament. Thurmont (2-0) hosts East Frederick (1-1), which defeated Four County, 8-4, on Friday, in the final game of pool play at 6 p.m. on Monday while National (1-1) finishes its pool play on Monday at Four County (1-1). Frederick American has yet to play a district game, but travels to Westminster (0-1) today for a 1 p.m. game in pool play. Brunswick, which has a bye, plays at Frederick American at 6 p.m. on Monday, in its final pool game. Terpko entered the game in the third. In the last of the third, with one out and the bases loaded, he came to the plate and waited for his pitch. Terpko took a l-l offering from National reliever Zack Drown and his shot cleared the left-field fence with room to spare. It was his fifth homer of the year. "He threw me a curveball," Terpko said. "1 like the fastball, but I still got a hold of this pitch. It was great." But Terpko didn't have all of the honors in what turned out to be a 10-run, 16-batter third for Thurmont. Three batters later, Tanner Ausherman, who has 12 homers on the season, belted a two-run shot over the fence in left-center. By the time the third was over, Thurmont led 16-0 and the game was called in the last of the fourth because of the 10-run rule. "I got into the fastball," Ausherman said. "We've got a lot of hitting potential on this team and I like our chances.”
July 13, 2005
Stage is set for LL district semifinals
The stage is set for most of the District 2 Little League Baseball championship semifinals with two semifinal games scheduled for today in the 11-12 division. Frederick American and Thurmont are the top seeds in their pools and host district semifinal games today. Frederick American will host crosstown rival Frederick National at 6 p.m. at Austin F. Angleberger Memorial Stadium while Thurmont hosts Brunswick in the other semifinal game at Leisner Field at 6 p.m. The winners of those games will play for the district championship on Thursday at a time and site to be determined following today's games. National sent 15 batters to the plate in the first, 20 in the second and 11 in the third in a game which seemed to last forever. It had 14 hits and took advantage of eight Frederick American errors on its way to the easy win. Corey Albaugh had the most hits for Frederick National with three, which included a pair of doubles. Heath Dahlgren and Mike Omelchenko each had two hits for National and Phil Reese had two hits with a double. Reese and Ian Poland combined to hold Frederick American to four hits and five runs in the third.
July 14, 2005
American tops National
Will meet Thurmont today for championship
Threatening weather caused John Hicks and his Frederick American teammates to wait about 35 minutes for the start of Wednesday's District 2 11-12 Little League semifinal against crosstown-rival Frederick National. It wound up being worth the wait. As American's No. 4 hitter, Hicks belted a one-out, solo home run over the left-field fence in the top of the first inning. His shot came as part of a nine run, 13-batter first as American advanced to today's district championship game with a 14-0 win over National. The game was called after four innings because of the 10-run rule. The win sends American back to the district championship game after a two year absence. Today's winner gets to stay in Frederick because the state 11-12 Little League Tournament will be held at Robert B. Staley Stadium, home of Frederick National Little League. In this division of Little League Baseball, there is no host team status. Teams must win their way into the next level of tournament play. "We've been wanting to get back to the district championship game and a chance at going back to the state tournament," said the 12-year-old Hicks, American's starting second baseman. "It's going to make for an exciting final in the districts." Also getting in on the home run action, balling in the second slot in the order, was Deandre Scott. Scott, a center fielder, hit a 1-1 pitch off National starter Mark Knott and sent the ball sailing over the right-field fence for a two-run homer. "I saw that first pitch coming (a strike) and I'm thinking: 'Whoa!,'" said Scott said, who then waited out the next pitch, a ball, before swinging at the third offering. "It was a fastball," Scott said. "I knew I had to try and hit it out. It was up there pretty high and 1 thought it had a chance to go out. Then, I saw it go out and it felt real good." Scott ended up going 3-for-3 with his homer, a double and four RHIs. Alex Keller went 3-for-3 with a double and two RBIs for American. Kyle Staley had two hits with a double for American and Gerardo Dudamel had two hits. Ryan McDowell had a two-run double in the first for American. Eight of the nine starters in American's lineup scored at least one run in the first. American went on to score two runs in the second and three in the third. American pounded out 16 hits through four innings. Corey Droneburg hurled an abbreviated complete-game one-hitter with eight strikeouts and one walk. Tyler Specht spoiled Droneburg's bid for a no-hitter when he beat out an infield single in the fourth.
July 17, 2005
Sticking to game plan pays off for Thurmont
Thurmont's plan to defeat Frederick American in Saturday's District 2 11-12 Little League championship game at Robert B. Staley Stadium was not complicated. It was simple. Come through with good, clutch hitting throughout the starting lineup on offense and back it up with solid defense and good pitching. The northern county team did all of that well and came away with its second district 11-12 title in the last three years, defeating American, 11-0. The game was called after four innings because of the 10-run rule. With this year's district crown comes an added bonus — staying close by in the county for the state tournament. Frederick National Little League is hosting this year's state 11-12 tournament at Staley Stadium, which begins next Saturday. Add to that bonus yet another perk. District 2 drew a bye in the seven-team, double-elimination tournament and moves right into the second round, which means Thurmont does not play until next Sunday at 3:30 p.m. Thurmont will face the District 1 (Western Maryland)-District 5 (Northern Maryland) champion. "This brings back a lot of memories for me," Thurmont shortstop Landon Routzahn said. "I remember as a 9-year-old when we won the district title two years ago and how exciting that was. It was a big thing and winning this year in the district championship game adds to all of the good things that have happened to us. We were hoping we would get the chance to get back to the district championship someday and we finally made it." One good thing that happened to Routzahn on Saturday was a three-run home run over the fence in left field in the top of the second inning with one out. Routzahn hit the first offering from American reliever Chuck Fleming and sent it sailing. "It was a fastball," Routzahn said, "I just waited for it." The previous inning, Thurmont's Nick Krstanovic got his chance to go long hall, and he didn't miss. Krstanovic hit the first pitch from American starter Deandre Scott and the shot went over the fence in straightaway center field for a two-run homer. "It was a fastball down the middle," Krstanovic said. "I wanted a good pitch and 1 got it." The homers by Routzahn and Krstanovic helped Thurmont gain a big advantage over American in the early innings. Thurmont built up a 7-0 lead on American through two innings and then added four runs in the fourth to help bring the game to an early end. Krstanovic was one of two Thurmont players to have multi-hit games. He and teammate Matt Gautnny each had two hits and R.J. Smith had a two-run double in the second. For the game, Thurmont had nine hits. "They played with a lot of confidence," American manager Rick Wilson said. "They got the hits when they needed them and were sharp on defense. They're at the point where we hope to be in the future. They looked like young adults out there on the field, playing very well." With Thurmont's offense on track, it made Tanner Ausherman's pitching duties a lot easier. Ausherman pitched a complete-game victory, hurling an abbreviated three-hitter with four strikeouts. He did not walk a batter. "I threw mainly the fastball," Ausherman said. "It mixed it up with some curveballs, but I would come back with the fastball on the third strike." "He was smoking them in there," Wilson said. "We couldn't hit him. It was amazing." The lone American player able to get to Ausherman was Gerardo Dudamel, who went 2-for-2 with singles in the first and fourth. Casey Friedland beat out an infield single in the fourth for American.
July 20, 2005
Youth baseball paradise – Bill Cauley
THIS IS MY favorite time of year in sports — youth baseball tournaments. As I begin my 32nd year of covering sports at The Frederick News-Post, I think back to when it all began in the summer of 1974, when I was covering state Babe Ruth and Little League tournaments. Things have come a long way since then. There are more opportunities for youngsters to learn to play baseball and Softball. The Little League tournaments back then were single-elimination. One bad game and you were out. Since the formats changed to either double-elimination or pool play, more teams and programs sprang up. Most youth leagues back then didn't start their seasons until late April or early May. Tournaments started in mid-July and ran through mid- August. You look at recent schedules and they start in late March or early April and continue through mid-August. Last year, Frederick's 14-year-old Babe Ruth team added another week to the tournament schedule, advancing to the 14-year-old World Series in Wilson, N.C., where it finished third. The summer sports season is a paradise, for me, the players, managers and coaches, and — most important — the parents and volunteers who support them.
FOR THE NEXT two weeks, that paradise is going to be enhanced 10-fold as far as I'm concerned. The Frederick area is hosting three state youth baseball tournaments and two regional tournaments. The most recognized youth baseball organization around the world is Little league Baseball. This year, Frederick National Little League hosts the state 11-12 tournament, the main division of the organization, at Robert B. Staley Stadium, beginning at noon on Saturday. The state Little League Tournament was last held in Frederick seven years ago at Staley Stadium. Hughesville, of Charles County, won the state crown that year. The tournament rotates from district to district each year, and it's Frederick's turn this year. Seven teams from seven districts across the state converge on Staley Stadium for the double-elimination tournament, which is expected to draw hundreds of fans each day. The tournament runs through Thursday, July 28. If an extra game is needed to determine a state champion, it would be played on Friday, July 29. The local entry in this year's state Little League Tournament is Thurmont, which won the District 2 championship Saturday, blanking Frederick American, 11-0. Thurmont is making its second trip to the state tournament in the last three years. Thurmont has also received a first-round bye and will not play until 3:30 p.m. on Sunday in the second round of the tournament. Thurmont will play the winner of District 1 (Western Maryland) and District 5 (Northern Maryland) in that game. Opening ceremonies are scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday. Frederick National Little League officials, as well as other Little League officials from across District 2 and the state, are working to create a festival-like atmosphere for the weeklong tournament. Judging by the way they ran the 1998 state Little League Tournament, this one should be another winner.
2005 – Thurmont
District 2 Champions
Thurmont
Host - Frederick (District 2) At Staley Stadium
Tournament Results:
District Round:
Frederick National vs
Frederick National vs
Frederick National vs
Frederick National vs
• • 2006 • •
July 2, 2006
Little League is doing just fine
FREDERICK ~ For the past year, we have heard about the demise of Little League baseball about how fewer children are playing, about how fewer teams can be fielded and about how local leagues were forced to merge. From what I read, and from what I heard from concerned parents, it seemed the history rich Little leagues were in grave danger. Not quite. If last week's District 2 Little League Tournament of Champions and city championship are any indication, plenty of local families still care about youth baseball. When the rain finally stopped, the Little Leaguers put on quite a show. Taylor Hyssong, Mark Knott and Andrew Lombardi hit dramatic home runs. Malt Wilson had a 16-strikeout performance. The coaches were enthusiastic. The players were skilled. The spectators were well behaved. Little League baseball is not going away anytime soon. To believe otherwise would be to bet against history, tradition and the will of passionate Fredericktonians. Frederick American is in its 51st season. East Frederick has been around for 40 years. While the two leagues were forced to merge this year for interleague regular season play, there were plenty of talented players to go around. City champion Sertoma had two of its reserves get hits in the city title game. If the backups can hit, then team depth isn't much of an issue. Nor is leadership. Local Little League organizations are lucky enough to have supporters who are stubborn enough to press forward regardless of how many teams are out there. Frederick American President Rick Wilson is a fine spokesman for Little League baseball. Much of the information in last week's stories came from him. He is the sort of outgoing leader any organization would covet. Danny Miller managed to run a wonderful Tournament of Champions event at Staley Field, perhaps the nicest venue to take in a local baseball game. The grill was up and operational, providing tasty (and cheap) treats for the spectators. The fans crowded around home plate. The field, despite taking in several inches of rain, was in fine shape. Local barber Jay Wastler was around Staley Field for much of the action this week. Wastler's Barbershop, where I got my first haircut two decades ago. was one of the many sponsors with signs covering the Staley Stadium outfield fence. Sertoma manager Brian Smith devoted four years to reviving his squad and molding it into championship form. When Sertoma won the title game, he was one of the first to jump into the postgame celebration pile. Now that's passion. Soccer will continue to draw youth players. So will lacrosse, tennis, track, football and gymnastics, among other sports. But enough long-time Frederick residents care enough to ensure that baseball will continue to be a popular youth sport. The number of Little League teams may be dwindling, but the area keeps finding athletes, many of which are second and third generation baseball players. Most of the county high school baseball powers boasted excellent sophomore and freshmen classes. Expect more high school teams to contend for region and state titles in the next few years. The majority of those high schoolers got their start in the Frederick Little Leagues. They may not have as many players as before, but those who are still involved keep putting on a great show. Players up to two more chances to secure game balls. "We think it’s a neat thing to do for the kids," Foltz said. "Hopefully, they come away with a souvenir to remind them of their Little League days."
July 6, 2006
Tourney season arrives for youth baseball
FREDERICK – Post season youth baseball begins today with the District 2 11-12 Little League Tournament starting at two sites in the county. Frederick National plays host to Four County at Robert B. Staley Stadium, while Thurmont, the defending state champion, hosts Brunswick. Both games begin at 6 p.m. Frederick American and Westminster have drawn first-round byes in the double-elimination tournament and do not play until Friday. Frederick American faces the Frederick National-Four County winner at 6 p.m. on Friday, while Westminster plays the Brunswick-Thurmont winner at 6 p.m. on Friday. Since East Frederick is not fielding an all-star team in the 11-12 division this year, the tournament format changed from pool play to double-elimination. The tournament continues through July 13 and, if needed, July 14. The district winner advances to the slate 11-12 tournament at Arbutus Middle School in Baltimore County, July 22-23.
July 7, 2006
Nationals Win
In other District 2 action on Thursday, a grand slam by E J. Wrzesinski in the top of the fifth inning powered Frederick National to a 7-4 win over Four County at Robert B. Staley Stadium in Frederick. Frederick American, which also drew a first-round bye, hosts Frederick National at 6 p.m. today in a winners' bracket game at Austin F. Angleberger Memorial Stadium.
Frederick National 7, Four County 4
FREDERICK- Back-to-back home runs by J. D Williams and Mark Knott in the top of the third helped set the stage for National's win. But it would be Wrzesinski's grand slam that would clinch it in the fifth. Four County was leading 4-3 at the time. Knott had three hits and Williams had two. Knott also pitched a complete-game victory with 11 strikeouts and two earned runs. Ryan Milburn had two doubles for Four County which plays today's Thurmont-Westminster loser at 6 p m on Monday at a site to be determined later
July 8, 2006
National looks for first title since '98
FREDERICK - The last time Frederick National Little League won a District 2 11-12 championship was in 1998, when it hosted the state tournament. Since then, the city-based team has come close but not won any titles. On Friday, however, Frederick National served notice it was back in the hunt for a crown. Behind the three-hit pitching of E.J. Wrzesinski and good hitting from Mark Knott and David Janus, Frederick National beat crosstown-rival Frederick American, 12-2, in a five-inning game at Austin F. Angleberger Memorial Stadium, American's home field. The win sends Frederick National into the winners' bracket finals of the double-elimination tournament at 6 p.m. Monday at Leisner Field in Thurmont, where it faces defending-state champion Thurmont, which ripped Westminster, 14-1, on Friday (four innings) at Bennett Cerf Park in Westminster to reach the finals of the winners' bracket as well. Frederick American plays at Brunswick at 6 p.m. in a losers' bracket game on Monday. Four County plays host to Westminster in a losers' bracket game, also at 6 p.m. on Monday. "This is my last year, so I would like to finish out winning the districts," Janus said. He was all of 5 years old the last time Frederick National won the district title and knows all about the league's successful tradition. On Friday, he had three hits and drove in a run. Wrzesinski pitched a five-inning, complete-game victory for Frederick National with five strikeouts. He allowed one earned run. "I stuck with the fastball and used a changeup a few times," he said. "I was trying to keep the ball down." Knott, who bats fourth in the batting order for Frederick National, had three hits with three RBI’s. He had an RBI single in the first and added a key two-run single in the fourth, when Frederick National sent 11 batters to the plate, scored five runs and chased Frederick American starter Matt Wilson. Knott said he had been having trouble with some pitches in previous plate appearances but has been improving. "I like to get into the fastball," he said. Wrzesinski had two hits with three RBIs. Frederick American's two runs scored in the second on a passed ball and a fielder's choice. Judd Zeigler drove in a run.
July 11, 2006
New players help Thurmont stay on track for repeat
THURMONT — If you want to get technical, Thurmont is attempting to win a second consecutive District 2 11-12 Little League championship. But shortstop Brent Heinzl is the only Thurmont player who is back to defend the title. Everybody else is new. No problem so far. Heinzl, the lone returnee, went 4-for-4 with four RBIs to lead Thurmont to a 7-4 win over Frederick National on Monday before an overflow crowd at Leisner Field. When asked why nobody else stuck around, Heinzl gave a matter-of-fact answer. "Most of them were just too old," he said. Not Heinzl, who was one of the few 11-year-olds on last year's team. Last year, Heinzl desired to play for a Cal Ripken team based in Thurmont, but such a squad never materialized. He wound up playing for a Thurmont squad that won a state title. Heinzl, who drove in two runs in the first, one in the third and one more for good measure in the sixth, did notice a few changes this year. "There were a lot more people here," Heinzl said. Fans crammed the multi-colored bleachers, peered over the dugout and lined the outfield fence. Umpires had to double as crowd-control specialists, instructing spectators to move away from taboo areas in the outfield and home plate. A few Thurmont players admitted being nervous for their first few at-bats, but they advanced in the winner's bracket. Thurmont will host the Frederick National-Brunswick winner on Thursday. Ben Tylicki had two doubles for Thurmont. Josh Laramore had three hits, including a double. J.B. Williams paced National by going 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Leadoff hitter David Janus went 3-for-4. Thurmont pitcher Nick Maxey kept his composure following a lengthy delay between innings. An umpire said Maxey was not staying in contact with the rubber. Several adults, including all three umpires met at the pitcher's mound with the Little league rule book open to determine if Maxey's delivery was legal. After the umpires and administrators were satisfied that his motion met criteria, Maxey recovered to throw two scoreless innings.
July 12, 2006
BRUNSWICK — Zach Dinges liked. playing long ball against Westminster on Tuesday in the District 2 11-12 Little League Tournament. The Brunswick right-hander hit two of his team's three home runs and helped pave the way for a 5-2 win in a losers' bracket elimination game, ending Westminster's stay in the double elimination tournament. Brunswick moves on to the championship game of the losers' bracket today at Robert B. Staley Stadium, where it faces Frederick National at 8 p.m.
July 13, 2006
In a District 2 11-12 elimination round game today, Frederick National hosts Brunswick at 6 p.m. at Staley Stadium. That winner will play at defending state champion Thurmont. the champion of the winners' bracket, for the district championship. The date and time of that game will also be announced later. The winner of that championship advances to the state tournament.
July 14, 2006
Power-hitting Brunswick slugs way past National
LITTLE LEAGUE I District2 11-12 Tournament
FREDERICK — As per Brunswick Little League tradition, athletes who hit home runs get to keep their home run balls. Assuming the balls can be found, of course. "Otherwise," Brunswick manager Brad Foltz said, "we have to make do with what we have." Four Brunswick 11-12 Little Leaguers left Staley Stadium clutching home run balls, following a 15-3 victory over Frederick National in the loser's bracket final. Zach Dinges, Todd Cutsall, Josh Merriman and Zach Struss all hit home runs for Brunswick which travels to Thurmont tonight at 6 for the District II championship. Up until this point, Brunswick had relied on pitching, namely the arms of Cutsail and Matt Wanger to advance. Brunswick had little trouble scoring runs on Wednesday. Dinges and Struss had back-to-back home runs in the first, sparking an offensive display that was halted by the mercy rule in the fourth Cutsail had a home run, a double and two RBIs — in one inning. "I've never done that before," said a laughing Cutsail. After the game, Cutsail kept flipping his home run ball in the air — or what appeared to be his home run bal. The ball had his name, the dale and the game written on it. But because Cutsail had crushed his home run into the trees behind the Staley Stadium fence, it could not be retrieved. Thus, a replica ball had to be used. Two other home run balls could not be found. For logistical purposes, the Brunswick players were hitting the ball too hard. Not that Foltz was complaining. "Hopefully this gives us a confidence boost," he said. Other big hits came from throughout the lineup. A.J. Fogle had a double and two RBIs for Brunswick. Struss had two hits and two RBIs. Timmy McDermid had a RBI base hit. Middle infielders Dylan Brown (second base) and Fogle (shortstop) also turned a double play in the second. E.J. Wrzesinski had a home run for Frederick National, which is eliminated from the tournament. Brunswick faces Thurmont tonight at 6. To win this double elimination tournament, Brunswick must beat Thurmont twice. If a second game is needed, it is scheduled for Saturday, which gives the Brunswick player
2006 - South Caroline (Preston)
District 2 Champions
Thurmont
Tournament Results:
District Round:
Frederick National vs Four County won 7-4
Frederick National vs Frederick American won 12-2
Frederick National vs Thurmont lost 7-4
Frederick National vs Brunswick lost 15-3
• • 2007 • •
July 13, 2007
National trounces Thurmont
Frederick National ended Thurmont's two-year reign as District 2 11-12 Little League champion on Thursday, taking advantage of six errors on its way to an abbreviated, 16-4 win in the district semifinals at Robert B. Staley Stadium. The game was called after five innings because of the 10-run rule. Westminster is the only team that stands in the way of National's first district 11-12 title in almost 10 years, Westminster ousted Four County in Thursday's other district semifinal game and hosts National at 1 p.m. on Saturday for the championship at Bennett Cerf Park. Travis Phelps was the winning pitcher for Frederick National on Thursday. He pitched 4 1-3 innings with four hits and eight strikeouts. Phelps said he was surprised National won the game by such a large margin, given Thurmont's previous record of success during the last three years in district play. Thurmont won the state 11-12 title two years ago. "Thurmont has been really good in the past," Phelps said. "They usually crush the ball and hit it real hard." Instead, the best effort Thurmont could give on Thursday was in the last of the fourth inning, when it scored three runs. Zach Jones blasted a two-run home run over the left-center field fence to highlight the inning. Thurmont also got a single run in the first on an RBI single by Austin Boggs. Phelps said he used a combination of fastballs and curveballs to keep the Thurmont batters off balance. He said he had to leave the game with one out in the fifth because he was approaching his pitch limit of 85. Phelps was relieved by Jerel English, who retired both batters he faced. Other than Jones' homer and Boggs' double, Thurmont got a double to left by Brad Little and an RBI single by Zach Willard. With Phelps and English keeping Thurmont's batters in check, National used a pair of high-scoring innings to hasten the abbreviated win. National scored four runs in the third and sent 10 batters to the plate in a six-run fourth. National clinched the win with three runs in the fifth.
July 15, 2007
Local squad remains calm to rally for title-clinching win over Westminster
WESTMINSTER — Frederick National won the District 2 11-12 Little League championship on Saturday to end an eight-year drought, coming from behind to defeat Westminster, 7-5, at Bennett Cerf Park. Trailing the host team 4-2 in the top of the fifth inning, National scored four runs —two on a game-tying home run by Travis Phelps — to retake the lead, then added a game- clinching run in the sixth on a solo homer by Ian Foland. National, which has not won a district 11-12 crown since 1998, when it hosted the state Little League Tournament, faces the District 6 (upper Eastern Shore) champion at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Rising Sun in Cecil County. In most of its previous district games, National won by virtue of the 10-run rule after four or five innings. That didn't happen on Saturday. National held a 2-1 lead in the last of the fourth when Westminster scored three runs, two on a double by Ben Shamer, for a 4-2 lead. That didn't leave National a lot of time to rally with two innings to go. But with one out in the fifth, National began its comeback. Foland singled to left and moved to second on a passed ball. Phelps then cleared the bases with his shot over the fence in left field. The score was tied at 4-4. "At first, we were thinking we might be getting close to being out of the game," said Phelps, who has four homers in tournament play. "But coach (National manager Dewayne Ellis) told us not to get down on ourselves, that we would be able to come back, and that two runs down is nothing." National continued to take Ellis' advice the rest of the way. It scored two more runs in the fifth, one on a RBI single to left by Blake Lincoln and another on a Westminster error to take a 6-4 lead. National sent 10 batters to the plate in the fifth and chased Westminster starter Nick Saldana in the process. Foland said the team was nervous when it was behind, but remained confident it could come back. "We got real excited when we took the lead back," he said. "The home run ball I hit was a fastball right down the middle. I was waiting on that pitch." "I knew at the start of the game it wouldn't be a short one, where we would win on the 10-run rule," Ellis said. "Westminster has a very good team with a lot of good players. For some of our players, it was the first time they'd been involved in a game like this." Ellis said the key to winning the game was not to panic when National fell behind. He said the team had to come back for a win over Brunswick in district play, so he wasn't surprised when National rallied against Westminster. Winning the championship on Saturday was special to Ellis. He said the last time National took the crown, his son, David, was on the team. "It's a good feeling once again," he said. National took its first lead with a run in the first on an RBI ground-rule double by Daniel Medina. Westminster tied the score in the last of the second on a two-out, solo homer by Zach Renner. A Westminster error in the fourth gave National a 2-1 lead in the fourth. Medina was National's starter, but he was relieved in the third by Michael Omelchenko. Medina allowed one earned run through two innings, while Omelchenko, who picked up the win in relief, allowed five hits with six strikeouts, one walk and a hit batter. He struck out the side in the sixth, adding an exclamation point to National's win. "We just needed to stay positive when we were down two runs," Omelchenko said. "We just had to work our way out of it and what I needed to do was just throw strikes." Foland led National with three hits and Phelps had two. Westminster's Zach Dudley had three hits. Foland summed up the idea of National going back to the state tournament for the first time in nine years. "I like it," he said. Eric Kennedy, who had four triples in a win over East Frederick on Tuesday, had a grand slam in the fourth on Thursday. "I saw a lot of fastballs today," he said, noting that's what he hit for his grand slam. Phelps led National in hitting with a leadoff homer in the fifth and a leadoff triple in the third. Daniel Medina had a two-run homer in the third and Justin Wells had a RBI double in the second.
July 22, 2007
National 11-12 falls to Easton
RISING SUN — Frederick National was able to recover from one bad inning on Saturday in the opening round of the state 11-12 Little League Tournament, but not two. Easton took advantage of that second bad inning to score five runs and went on to advance in the winner's bracket of the double elimination tournament with an 8-4 win at Rising Sun Little League Complex. National drops into the elimination bracket, where it will play Federal (Hagerstown) at 7 p.m., today. Easton, a frequent visitor to the state tournament, faces Elkton at 1 p.m., today, in a winner's bracket game. Elkton drew a first-round bye in the tournament. For National, making its first appearance in the state 11-12 Little League Tournament in nine years, Saturday was an error-filled day. The city team committed four errors, including three in the last of the first inning. "This was clearly not our best game today," National manager Dewayne Ellis said, adding Easton took advantage of National's mistakes. National faces an uphill fight in the tournament and must play and win every day in order to have a shot at reaching the championship round on Thursday. National took advantage of an Easton error in the top of the first to push across a single run for a 1-0 lead. But that advantage was gone in the last of the first when it gave up two unearned runs on three errors. A third run scored that inning on an RBI single from Tayvon Blake. Easton had a 3-1 lead but National regrouped in the third with three runs. A leadoff home run over the wall in left center field by Eric Kennedy cut Easton's lead to two, 4-2. Easton starter Justis Mills then issued back-to-back walks to Zach Petrill and Jerel English but was able to strike out Blake Lincoln. Duntel Watts laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners up and Ian Roland followed with a grounder to the Easton shortstop, whose throw to first base was wild, allowing Petrill and English to score. National had regained the lead, 4-3 and, behind the pitching of starter Travis Phelps, clung to that advantage through the next two innings. But a long and frustrating fifth awaited National. RBI singles from Jahad Mills, Nick Pippin and Zach Corrpa. A passed ball and a National error allowed Easton to score five runs to take an 8-4 lead. Ellis said he was pleased National was able to bounce back after the bad first inning but the fifth turned out to be costly and the team could not recover from it. National had one last chance to get back in the game in the top of the sixth with one out when Petrill and English got back-to-back singles off Justis Mills. Mills struck out Lincoln and had to leave the game after that because he had reached his pitch count. Taylor Slaugenhauth came on in relief to face Duntel Watts, who grounded out to end the game. During the fifth, Phelps, who was reaching his pitch-limit count of 85, was tiring and was pulled in favor of left-hander English with two runners on base an and none out. Phelps allowed three earned runs with six strikeouts, three walks and a hit batter. English gave up three earned runs with two strikeouts and a walk. "Travis pitched a good game, but he ran out of gas," Ellis said. "We went with Jerel on the mound because he had been looking good in practice and wanted to give him a shot at it." Ellis also said he wanted to see how Easton's right-handed batters would react against left-handed pitching. Kennedy led National with two hits, including his homer; and Petrill and Danny Medina also had two hits each. Blake had two hits for Easton. "Easton came prepared to play," Ellis said. "They took away our running game." Easton threw out two National runners trying to steal bases.
July 23, 2007
National ousted in state tourney
RISING SUN— Federal, of Hagerstown, eliminated Frederick National from the state 11-12 Little League Tournament in a big way on Sunday. Federal hit four home runs against two National pitchers and ousted the city team, 14-4, in an elimination-round contest. Federal moves on in the elimination bracket and plays again today. National had gone undefeated through district play before being handed two straight losses in the state tournament. On Saturday in the tournament opener when Easton beat National, 8-4. National was able to keep the game close in the first three innings in Sunday's game. A Danny Medina two-run home run in the last of the third cut Federal's lead to 3-2 after three innings. But the fourth and fifth innings turned bad for National. Federal scored six runs in the fourth and five in the fifth to break the game open and end it after five innings because of the 10-run rule. Michael Omelchenko had two hits for National Cory Albaugh had a double. Medina was the starting pitcher for National but he was relieved in the fourth by Omelchenko. Alex Courtney led Federal with two home runs and six RBIs.
2007 - West Salisbury
District 2 Champions
Frederick National (Dewayne Ellis)
Tournament Results:
District Round: Dewayne Ellis
Frederick National vs Brunswick won 8-6
Frederick National vs East Frederick won 19-1
Frederick National vs Thurmont won 16-4
Frederick National vs Westminster won 7-5
State Tournament
Frederick National vs Easton loss 8-4
Frederick National vs Federal loss 14-4
• • 2008 • •
July 7, 2008
Frederick National 23, EF 2
Dylan Davey had three hits for the winners. Jerel English had a home run and a triple, Brad Wastler a home run and a double and Josh McClain two hits. Tyler Craney had two hits for East Frederick
July 11, 2008
Three local LL teams win district games
Brunswick, Thurmont and Frederick National were all winners in the final day of pool play of the District 2 11-12 Little League Tournament Thursday. Brunswick defeated Westminster, 17-2; Thurmont defeated Frederick American, 18-10; and National defeated Four County, 13-10. Brunswick, Thurmont, National and Four County have qualified for the championship semfinal bracket Saturday. Brunswick will host Four County and National hosts Thurmont. Both games begin at 5 p.m. Saturday. The championship game is set for 5 p.m. Sunday.
National 13, Four County 10
There were seven homers hit in the game and Frederick National hit four of them on its way to the win. Brad Wastler led National with two homers and Josh McClain had a grand slam in the sixth. Dillon Davy also homered for National.
July 13, 2008
National, Brunswick to meet for district title
Two traditional county Little League powers will meet today for the District 2 11-12 championship. Defending champion Frederick National will host Brunswick at 5 p.m. at Robert B. Staley Stadium for the right to advance to the state tournament, which begins Saturday at Easton. National earned a return trip to the district title game with a 14-3 win over Thurmont Saturday. Brunswick, seeking its first district 11-12 crown since 1995, reached today's title game with an 18-0 win over Four County. National scored nine runs in the fifth on its way to the win. Phil Reese, Blake Lincoln and Brad Wastler each had a home run for National. Both Reese's and Wastler's homers drove in three runs. Wastler led National with two hits. Reese pitched a complete game with six strikeouts, five hits and one walk. For Thurmont, Colby Smith and Cory Hendrickson each had a home run.
July 15, 2008
Phil 'er up
National's Reese blasts two home runs to pace victory over Brunswick
Unlike last season, when Phil Reese was confined to hitting home runs in his living room chair on a video game system, these blasts were real and meaningful. After missing last season's championship season because of a torn labrum in his right shoulder, Reese was one of the heroes Monday night as Frederick National won its second straight District 2 11-12 Little League Tournament title at Robert B. Staley Stadium. He drove in four runs on a pair of two-run blasts to center field in Frederick's 5-3 victory over Brunswick, moving National into the Maryland State Little League Tournament. National will play the District 7 champion at 3 p.m. on Saturday in Easton. The second homer, Reese didn't even catch cleanly with his bat. He caught a 1-2 curveball from Brunswick starter Dallas Darling on the end of his bat and gave it a ride with one out in the fifth inning. "I was just trying to stay alive in the count," Reese said. "I have no idea how I got that much on it. I guess I just stayed back and shifted through (on the swing) pretty good I guess." Brunswick center fielder Joey Conrad spilled over the fence after trying to catch the ball. He returned to the game after taking a few moments to collect his breath. Reese's power surge backed up a strong pitching performance by starter Jerel English, who struck out 10 before being removed in the fifth inning because he had reached the 85-pitch limit. "My curveball and my fastball were really working," English said. "I just wanted to come out and do well because we won this last year. We wanted to do it again. We wanted to do it again." English set up a three-run fifth inning for National. He broke up a string of four strikeouts in a row for Darling with a single to center field. English then scored from first base on a double by Dylan Davey that took a bad hop to the fence. That set up Reese to clear the bases one more time. "This has got to be pretty sweet for him," National coach Danny Miller said. "At the time of the injury, some people thought he might never play again." During National's run to the district title last season, Reese was at home doing everything possible to keep his mind of the game. "I couldn't stand it," he said. "I had to something with baseball every day, whether it was video games or something else. Sometimes, I would just watch TV." Now, Reese was leading the way as National paraded the district championship banner around the field. Brunswick scored a run in each of the first two innings on a passed ball and wild pitch, respectively. It took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth when Trent Masser doubled down the right-field line, scoring Cody Wenner from first base. "Our kids had a really nice run. I am really proud of all of them," Brunswick coach Mark Tarleton said. "I can safely say that baseball in Brunswick is in pretty good shape." Brad Wastler pitched the final two innings for Frederick and retired every batter he faced. He struck out five, including the final two to clinch the championship. "This is the first time I have won a district championship," said Wastler, who celebrated after the final out by hurling his glove back toward the dugout. "It feels great."
July 20, 2008
National LL wins
EASTON -- Frederick National Little League's 11-12 team opened up against Hughesville Saturday with three straight singles and scored four runs in the first inning. The rest was easy and the city team cruised to a 10-0, four-inning win over the Charles County team in the opening round of the state tournament at North Easton. "It kind of surprised me a little bit," National manager Danny Miller said of the win, which was called after four innings due to the 10-run rule. "Usually, Hughesville has a pretty strong team. But we came out swinging, we got a lot of good hitting and played with a lot of confidence." National advances in the winner's bracket of the double-elimination event, where it faces the Federal (Hagerstown)-South Maryland winner at 3 p.m. today on Butler Field. Brad Wastler was the big hitter for National with three, including a home run and a double. Blake Lincoln and Phil Reese each had two hits with a homer. "Phil's homer was a long one," Miller said. "I figured it was about 270 feet." Dylan Davey added two hits for National. Reese was the National starter, hurling three innings of one-hit baseball. He was relieved in the fourth by Wastler. Miller said he took Reese out after 39 pitches in case he needed him in relief for the next game.
July 21, 2008
Local Roundup Fred. National loses in state 11-12 LL
EASTON -- One bad inning by Frederick National was all it took for Federal (Hagerstown) to overtake the city team and win, 5-4, in a winner's bracket game of the state 11-12 Little League Tournament at North Easton Park. The loss drops National into the elimination round of the double-elimination tournament, where it faces North East, of Cecil County, at 5:30 p.m. today. National held a 4-2 lead in the last of the fifth inning when the combination of a throwing error and a two-run double gave Federal its 5-4 lead. National was able to get a base runner on board in the sixth, but the runner was stranded. "You take away that one inning, it could have been different," National manager Danny Miller said. "It was a great ballgame for 4 1/2 innings. The kids are upset right now because of the way we lost the game at the end. It was a tight ballgame." Miller said the next thing the team needs to do is regroup for today's game with North East. "We're still in this thing and we can bounce back." Blake Lincoln had a home run for National and Dylan Davey drove in two runs. Jerel English pitched a complete game for National. "I thought Jerel had a fantastic ball game," Miller said. He also said it was a shame the game had to end the way it did because of how well English was pitching.
July 22, 2008
National 11-12s knocked out of state tournament
EASTON -- North East frustrated Frederick National's 11-12 Little League team on Tuesday in state tournament action, holding it to one run and eliminating the city team, 6-1, at North Easton Park. "Nothing went right for us today," Frederick manager Danny Miller said. "Every time we would hit the ball, it would be right at them. We just could not get anything going and North East played pretty solid defense." North East took a 5-0 lead in the game and did not look back. "It's tough to come back from a deficit like that," Miller said. Blake Lincoln and Brad Wastler each had two hits for National.
2008 - Hagerstown Federal
District 2 Champions
Frederick National (Danny Miller)
Tournament Results:
District Round: Danny Miller
Frederick National vs East Frederick won 23-2
Frederick National vs Four County won 13-10
Frederick National vs Thurmont won 14-3
Frederick National vs Brunswick won 5-3
State Tournament : Easton
Frederick National vs Hughesville won 10-0
Frederick National vs Federal loss 5-4
Frederick National vs North East loss 6-1
• • 2009 • •
July 12, 2009
District 2 11-12, First Round
Brunswick 14, National 6
Brunswick used a 10-batter, seven-run fifth to open up a big lead on National at Robert B. Staley Stadium. Jeremy Garrott led Brunswick with three hits, including a home run, double and five RBIs. Adam Fitzwater had four hits with a double, Joe Rindone had two hits with a double and Doug Pearl had three hits with a homer. Brunswick hosts Frederick American in a second-round game at 5 p.m. today National plays at Westminster in an elimination- round game at 5 p.m.
July 15, 2009
MAHALCHICK, AMERICAN JUMP TO CONCLUSION
Nothing like a well-timed leap to keep a season alive for Frederick American. Jonathan Mahalchick, perhaps, jumped higher than he had all season to snare a hot line drive off the bat of Frederick National's Jacob Medina in the top of sixth inning of Tuesday's night District 2 11-12 Little League elimination game at Robert B. Staley Stadium. Mahalchick nearly turned a game-ending double play, too, with a quick throw to second base. But the final play of American's dramatic 16-15 victory over the defending District 2 champions came a batter later as second baseman Maciah Thomas moved to his right to field the ball and then tossed it to first for the final out. "I had a big adrenaline rush," Mahalchick said of his leaping catch. "I didn't know 1 could jump that high." When the ball was heading his way at a brisk speed, Mahalchick was "scared" that he'd miss the ball, allowing Tommy Phelps of Frederick National to score the potential tying run from second-base in what had already been a topsy-turvy contest. But, as it turned out, American lived to play another game. The team will host Thurmont in another elimination game today at 6 p.m. "My heart can't take too much more of this," American coach Rick Wilson said after the game. American overcame an early 5-1 deficit, then went ahead 14-6 after scoring eight runs in the second inning and still had to sweat it out. National scored four runs in the fifth and barely put the bat on the ball. The team had just one hit in the inning yet managed to tie t h e game. But American responded quickly in the bottom of the fifth. Thomas led off with a double and the next batter, Xavier Sewell, brought him home with a double of his own. Sewell then scored the winning run when he came home from third base on a sacrifice fly to center by Travis Barbe. It was a key play because National's Josh McClain began the sixth by belting his third home run of the game well beyond the fence in left field, slicing the deficit to a single run. National put the tying run, Phelps, on third base after a passed ball before Mahalchick, Thomas and pitcher Nate Schwemmer shut the door for American. "Lot of big hits," National coach Danny Miller said. "It was a great 16-15 ballgame. Well played by both teams." The inning American might look back on is the fifth, when it scored five runs with two outs. Mahalchick drove in two runs with a single and the next batter, Barbe, launched a three-run homer. Thomas and Trace Russ also smacked home runs for American. Russ' was a grand slam in the second. "I knew we could hit the ball. 1 just thought our pitching would hold up a little better," said Wilson, relieved there was still some life left in his team's season.
2009 - Conococheague (Williamsport)
District 2 Champions
Brunswick Railroaders
Tournament Results:
District Round: Danny Miller
Frederick National vs Brunswick lost 14-6
Frederick National vs Frederick American lost 16-15
• • 2010 • •
July 13, 2010
Frederick National 11, Four County 1
In Sunday's win. National's Myles Mensah had three doubles in a five-game inning game. Casey Johnson had a triple. Zeb Ahalt had a double. Dylan Hall was the winning pitcher National plays at Brunswick at 6 p.m., Wednesday. in the winners' bracket final. Andrew Schoeffler had a double for Four County, which hosts Westminster in an elimination-round game at 6 p.m. today. Frederick American hosts Thurmont in another elimination-round game at 6 p.m. today.
July 15, 2010
BRUNSWICK DEFEATS FREDERICK NATIONAL
BRUNSWICK - The latest round of the long-standing District 2 Little League Tournament rivalry between Frederick National and Brunswick went to the hosts Wednesday, With home runs by Joe Rindone and Justin Walls and the combined pitching of Rindone, Andrew Wanger and Tyler Babyak, the defending district 11-12 champion advanced to Friday 's title game with a 9-1 win over National in the winners' bracket final, Brunswick hosts today's elimination round winner between National and Thurmont at 6 p.m. Friday. Thurmont ousted Frederick American. 6pm in four innings Wednesday. National hosts Thurmont at Robert B. Staley Stadium. Since the series began more than 50 years ago, National and Brunswick have met on a fairly-regular basis, each winning its share of games. Many of those games were district title tilts.. It's no wonder at least one member of Brunswick's team and its manager expect a rematch with National Friday at
Brunswick. "From what I've seen, so far in the district. I would be surprised if we didn't see National again," Brunswick manager Mark Tarleton said. "Believe me, in the time I've been involved in Brunswick Little League. National's gotten the best of us. Last year, we got them. Hopefully, we'll do it again this year." Rindone, who's three-run blast over the fence in straightaway center field gave Brunswick a 7-0 lead, has the same strong feeling. "It's going to be pretty tough, just like tonight," he said. "We have to hit the ball well and have some good defense." National manager Brooks Ahalt is a little more cautious on his outlook, knowing his team must first get past Thurmont in today's game. "We have to win tomorrow night," he said. "If we win that one, we will play for the championship Friday night." Brunswick struggled at the plate at the start, but began to figure out the pitching of National's Tommy Phelps as the game progressed. Walls hit a leadoff homer high over the fence in right field, giving Brunswick a 1-0 lead. Brunswick added another run in the second on a bases-loaded walk. Brunswick scored twice in the third. Rindone's three-run shot in the fourth put Brunswick in control. "Early on, we talked about not swinging at the curveball," Tarleton said. "We knew he (Phelps) had a good deuce. Of course, we go right out there and swing at curveballs that are off the plate and in the dirt. We had to re-focus after that first inning. We were more disciplined at the plate after that." Wanger singled in a pair of runs in the fifth. For the game, Tom McCarthy and Wanger each had two hits. Rindone got the win, throwing four innings of one-hit baseball with five strikeouts. Wanger pitched in the fifth. Babyak was the closer in the sixth. "Joey said he was getting a little gassed," Tarleton said. "We took Wanger out after the fifth so we could have him available for Friday." "Overall,I think we played a good game of baseball," Ahalt said. "Their balls (got through). Ours didn't. We hit the ball pretty well, but they were line drives right at people. It took us out of some inning on double plays," National's lone run came on a leadoff homer by Myles Mensah in the fourth. "We made every defensive play hit at us," Ahalt said "They got the hits, we didn't."
July 16, 2010
Thurmont wins again in 11-12 district II tourney
Thurmont's Little League 11-12 team matured a lot in the last five days. Since losing to Four County Saturday in the opening round of the District 2 Tournament, the northern county team fought its way back through the losers' bracket of the double-elimination tournament. Playing near-flawless baseball, Thurmont avenged its loss to Four County with a win Wednesday and earned a berth in today's championship game, defeating Frederick National, 12-4, in Thursday's losers' bracket final at National's Robert B. Staley Stadium. "We didn't hit the ball in the first game with Four County," Thurmont third baseman Owen Tokar said. "All we had to do was hit the ball and play good defense." Thurmont did both. Tokar helped his team's cause with two hits and four RBIs. He belted a two-out, two-run home run over the wall in straight-away center field in the last of the second inning, giving his team a 6-1 lead. "They practiced like they played today," Thurmont manager Phil Tylicki said. "That first game, that wasn't the same team. I don't know if it was me talking to them or them figuring out: 'Hey, we're in the losers' bracket. We have nothing to lose. Let's come out and have some baseball. Have some fun." Thursday's win means Thurmont faces another traditional District 2 power in Brunswick at 6 p.m. at undefeated Brunswick. A Brunswick win gives it the district crown outright. A Thurmont win forces an extra game at Thurmont's Leisner Field Saturday to determine a champion. "We haven't beaten Brunswick in forever," Tokar said. "I'm excited to play them. I hope we win." In the opposite dugout, Frederick National players, one by one, filed out. Each player shook hands with manager Brooks Ahalt and his staff, getting well wishes for the rest of the summer. National's hopes of a rematch with Brunswick, and another shot at a district crown, are put on hold for at least another year. "They played a nice game," Ahalt said. "They put the ball in play." Michael Tokar got the win for Thurmont, allowing one earned run through 4 2-3 innings. His cutter pitch worked well against most of National's lineup. "It moves sort of 'like a curveball," Tylicki said. "They just didn't hit it the whole time, so I just kept throwing it." Thurmont never trailed in Thursday's game. It scored four runs in the first and added two runs in the second and third. Thurmont got four more runs in the fifth.
2010 - Brunswick Railroaders
District 2 Champions
Brunswick Railroaders
Tournament Results:
District Round: Brooks Ahalt
Frederick National vs Four County won 11-1
Frederick National vs Brunswick lost 9-1
Frederick National vs Thurmont lost 12-4
July 8, 2002
National beats Thurmont
LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL
11-12 District II
Ian Hahn threw an abbreviated two-hitter with 11 strikeouts to lead Frederick National to an 11-1 win over Thurmont on Sunday. National beat Westminster American. 14-9, on Saturday. National's Danny Foit had three hits, including a homer, in Sunday's game, while Hahn had two hits. In Saturday's game. J.D. Jones had two hits, including a homer. Foit and Stephen Shriner both homered.
July 11, 2002
LL Play Continues
Frederick National visits Taneytown at 6 p.m. Friday in the third and final game of its round-robin series.
July 12, 2002
In Little League District 2 action today, pool play continues in the 11-12 division with East Frederick hosting Frederick American, Brunswick plays at Westminster National and Frederick National plays at Taneytown. All games begin at 6 p.m.
July 13, 2002 – NO PAPER ON ARCHIVES
July 15, 2002
American, National draw top LL seeds
Frederick American and Frederick National have drawn top seeds in their respective pools in the semi-finals of the District 2 11-12 Little League Tournament today and both have home field advantage for those semifinal games. Both city teams went undefeated through last week's pool play with Frederick American winning Pool A at 3-0 and Frederick National winning Pool B with a 4-0 mark. Frederick American clinched its top seed Saturday with a 5-3 win over Westminster National at Austin F. Angleberger Memorial Stadium. Frederick National had already clinched its top seed Friday. Frederick National hosts Westminster National, the second-seed from the B Pool, at 6 p.m. today at Robert B. Staley Stadium. Meanwhile, Frederick American hosts Westminster American at 6 p.m. today at Angleberger Stadium in the other semifinal game. The winners inert for the district championship at 6 p.m. Tuesday at a site to be determined after today's semifinal games.
July 16, 2002
LL finals - Nationals fall
Westminster National 4, Frederick National 3
In a matter of minutes, everything collapsed around Frederick National. The city team, which has not won a district title since 1998 was leading 2-1 with one out in last of the sixth when Westminster Nationa1 made its move. Andrew Feild drew a walk off Frederick National's Frank Zier and Justin Geho went to left with a single to put Feild at second. Derek Bonne then hit a long fly to right and both runners tagged successfully. Then, with two outs. Phil Ruzbarsky, who had gone 0-for-2 in three previous trips to the plate, singled to right center to drive in the game-winning runs. Frederick took advantage of the combination of three Westminster errors and a wild pitch to score three unearned runs. Frederick scored single runs in the second, third and fourth and had a 3-2 lead in the sixth when Westminster scored to win the game Ruzbarsky held Frederick to three hits with 13 strikeouts and five walks. Ruzbarsky, Zaeh Wolfe and Geho each had two hits.
2002 - South Caroline (Preston)
District 2 Champions
Frederick American
Tournament Results:
District Round:
Frederick National vs Westminster American won 11-9
Frederick National vs Thurmont won 11-1
Frederick National vs Taneytown won
Frederick National vs Westminster National lost 4-3
• • 2003 • •
2003 - West Salisbury
District 2 Champions
Thurmont
Tournament Results:
District Round:
Frederick National vs
Frederick National vs
Frederick National vs
Frederick National vs
• • 2004 • •
July 7, 2004
E. Frederick wins
The East Frederick 11-12 year old Little League All-Star team got off on the right foot in District II play Tuesday night. They banged out 18 hits and Stephen Hammerick tossed a three-hitter with seven strikeouts to move them to 1-0 in the district tournament. Sean Brennen and Micky Burks each hit a home run and had four hits, while Hammerle and Jimmy Dickson each banged out two hits. East Frederick jumped on top early with five runs in the first, three of which came on Burks' long ball and six in both the second and third. Brennen’s bomb came in the fourth-and final inning. East Frederick now plays at Frederick National on Thursday at 6 pm.
July 8, 2004
Nationals Win
THURMONT - Branden Kline threw a one-hitter with nine strikeouts to lead Frederick National to a win. Kline also had two hits, including a double, and Erich Dylus had two hits. National will host East Frederick today at 6 p.m.
July 9, 2004
National: Wins
(Continued from B-1)
After the second, the momentum changed hands and National scored three runs in the third to regain the lead for good. Kline and Jack Rentschler each had RBI hits in the inning and in the fourth. National all but put the game away with three more runs on two hits and two East Frederick errors to take an 8-2 lead. "Our kids came to play today—we're not capable of doing it all the time—but it was nice to see today" said Miller. "(East Frederick) is still probably the team to beat in the District but we threw a guy today that mixed it up pretty well." Burks was East Frederick's lone multiple hitter with a 2-for-2 day and Zach Jones suffered the toss. Despite the loss, East Frederick also advances into the District II playoffs with a 1-1 record and will play on the road Monday. "We have a game Monday so we have to stay focused for that," said Long. "We have to be optimistic, we just ran into good pitching today and there's nothing you can do about that"
July 11, 2004
Frederick National visits Taneytown at 6 p.m. Friday in the third and final game of its round-robin series.
July 12, 2004
In Frederick American's 6-3 win over Frederick National in the semifinals Wednesday, Briggs gave up five hits. Macierowsto had a three run double and Main had two hits.
In Little League District 2 action today.
Pool play continues in the 11-12 division with East Frederick hosting Frederick American, Brunswick plays at Westminster National and Frederick National plays at Taneytown. All games begin at 6 p.m.
July 13, 2004
National advances
Frederick National used its offensive firepower to move into the Maryland District II 11-12 year old Little League finals with a 14 hit attack Monday night to beat Westminster, 11-7. The first five hitters in National's line-up accounted for nine runs and nine hits to move into tonight's final at East Frederick — which beat Brunswick in the other semifinal 12-5 — to determine the representative in next week's state tournament in Williamsport National's No 3 and 4 hitters did most of the damage Erich Dylus, who hit third, led National with three hits, including a two-run homer, and drove in four runs. He also worked five innings and struck out six to pick up the win. Brandon Kline followed Dylus with three RBIs and a two-run homer in the fourth. "Our best hitters are in the top of our lineup and they were patient tonight”, National manager Danny Miller said. "They put together some good at-bats against a deliberate pitcher. Although National won, Miller wasn't too pleased with the effort. To beat East Frederick for a second time, he knows his team will need to be on its game. "We didn't play very well and Westminster swung the bats against us." Miller said. "We have to put it all together {Tuesday). Hopefully, our kids won't be looking back to last week (when National beat East Frederick. 12-2)." National took an early lead in the top of the first on three runs, two of which came on Dylus’ blast to center, and added another in the third for a 4-0 lead. After Westminster cut its deficit in half in the bottom of the third Kline quickly helped National respond in the fourth with his second homer in as many games. His blast to deep-center gave National a 6-2 advantage. Matt Schultz hit a solo shot in the fourth for Westminster to cut the National lead to 6-3 and then the excitement began. National plated five runs on five hits in the fifth to take a comfortable 11-3 lead. But after Westminster scored three in the fifth, things got interesting in the last of the sixth. Kline came on to relieve Dylus in the sixth and got two quick outs before running into trouble. Zac Thomas and Tyler Cheatham walked and Justin Sowinski loaded the bases with a single to right. An error scored Thomas to make the score 11-7 and brought the tying run, Alex Geiman to the plate. Kline went after him and got Geiman to pop out in foul territory near the first base line, ending the game. Brian McShea. Brian Healy and Jack Rentschler 'Each had two hits for National while Sowinski had three for Westminster.
July 14, 2004
Walking off to district title
Jones' homer gives East crown
East Frederick's Zach Jones had the chance to be the hero and win the game for his teammates on Tuesday in the District 2 11-12 Little League championship. He didn't disappoint them. Jones, down to his last pitch on a 3-2 count in the last of the sixth inning and the score tied at 3, got all of the payoff pitch from Frederick National hurter Branden Kline and sent it far beyond the wall in center field for a walk off home run, giving the host team a 4-3 win and the district crown at Max Kehne Park It marks the first time in nearly 10 years East Frederick has won a district championship in this age group. The city team moves on to the state 11-12 little league Tournament beginning Saturday. July 24, at Williamsport in Washington County. East plays the District 6 representative (Upper Eastern Shore) at 3 pm, Saturday. July 24. in a first-round game. The tournament features seven teams, including East and is double elimination. With the score tied at 3 going into the last of the sixth, Jones, a right-hander, had just completed six innings of impressive pitching for East giving up four hits with two strikeouts, three walks and one earned run. Leading off the last of the sixth, Jones -waited out Kline for a good pitch before telling the game-winner, "That was the best two-strike swing I’ve ever seen," said East coach Rob Toggle, who was one of the first people to hug Jones after he crossed the plate. "1 did just what my coaches told me to do," Jones said. "Look for the good pitch. Anything close was to be swung at" In Jones" previous two appearances at the plate on Tuesday he grounded out to first base in the first and was hit by the pitch in the fourth. East loss to Frederick American two years ago in the district championship game was turned into a bad memory. In that game. a late-inning home run gave American the win. "'We had some unfinished business to take care of after that" Tuggle said. Before his home run. Jones' effort on the mound kept his team in the game. National, which beat East last week in pool play 12-2, took a 1-0 lead in the third on an RBI double from Kline.
2004 - South Caroline (Preston)
District 2 Champions
East Frederick
Tournament Results:
District Round:
Frederick National vs Thurmont won
Frederick National vs East Frederick won 12-2
Frederick National vs Taneytown won
Frederick National vs Westminster won 11-7
Frederick National vs East Frederick lost 4-3
• • 2005 • •
July 8, 2005
Two big innings help Frederick National win
Frederick National needed two big innings to get out of a slump in Thursday's opening game of the District 2 11-12 Little League Tournament at Robert B. Staley Stadium. Those innings were the third and fourth where National scored nine of its 10 runs on its way to a 10-5 win over crosstown-rival East Frederick. Both teams are scheduled to be in action again today with National traveling to Thurmont for a 6 p.m. game and East Frederick hosting Four County at 5:45 p.m. at Max Kehne Park. But there is a strong possibility no games will be played today because of the heavy rains associated with the remains of Tropical Storm Cindy, which has been moving up the East coast this week. If that is the case, all scheduled District 2 tournament games will be rescheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday, district officials said on Thursday. National trailed East Frederick, 2-1, going into the last of the third inning when it sent nine batters to the plate and scored four runs on two hits to take a 5-2 lead. National took advantage of two East Frederick errors to put key runners in scoring position. E.J. Wrzesinski had a clutch RBI single in the third for National. East Frederick answered with three runs in the fourth to tie the score at 5. A leadoff home run by Nick Baker set the pace for the three run fourth. National came back in its half of the fourth, sending 10 batters to the plate, scoring five runs, and taking a 10-5 lead, which would stand as the final score in the end. Tyler Specht and Wrzesinski each had two hits for National. Specht had a double in the fourth. Austin McCrary pitched a complete-game victory, giving up seven hits with two strikeouts. For East Frederick, Dan Dixon had two hits with a double and Baker had two hits with his homer. Brian Chase added two hits for East Frederick.
July 9, 2005
LITTLE LEAGUE
District 2 11-12
THURMONT — Anthony Terpko doesn't mind playing the role of coming off the bench for Thurmont's 11-12 Little League all-star team, or where he bats in the lineup. In fact, he did in grand fashion on Friday. Terpko, batting in the eighth spot, slammed a one-out grand slam as part of a 10-run third inning for Thurmont and the host team routed Frederick National, 16-0, in the second day of the District 2 11-12 Little league Tournament. Thurmont (2-0) hosts East Frederick (1-1), which defeated Four County, 8-4, on Friday, in the final game of pool play at 6 p.m. on Monday while National (1-1) finishes its pool play on Monday at Four County (1-1). Frederick American has yet to play a district game, but travels to Westminster (0-1) today for a 1 p.m. game in pool play. Brunswick, which has a bye, plays at Frederick American at 6 p.m. on Monday, in its final pool game. Terpko entered the game in the third. In the last of the third, with one out and the bases loaded, he came to the plate and waited for his pitch. Terpko took a l-l offering from National reliever Zack Drown and his shot cleared the left-field fence with room to spare. It was his fifth homer of the year. "He threw me a curveball," Terpko said. "1 like the fastball, but I still got a hold of this pitch. It was great." But Terpko didn't have all of the honors in what turned out to be a 10-run, 16-batter third for Thurmont. Three batters later, Tanner Ausherman, who has 12 homers on the season, belted a two-run shot over the fence in left-center. By the time the third was over, Thurmont led 16-0 and the game was called in the last of the fourth because of the 10-run rule. "I got into the fastball," Ausherman said. "We've got a lot of hitting potential on this team and I like our chances.”
July 13, 2005
Stage is set for LL district semifinals
The stage is set for most of the District 2 Little League Baseball championship semifinals with two semifinal games scheduled for today in the 11-12 division. Frederick American and Thurmont are the top seeds in their pools and host district semifinal games today. Frederick American will host crosstown rival Frederick National at 6 p.m. at Austin F. Angleberger Memorial Stadium while Thurmont hosts Brunswick in the other semifinal game at Leisner Field at 6 p.m. The winners of those games will play for the district championship on Thursday at a time and site to be determined following today's games. National sent 15 batters to the plate in the first, 20 in the second and 11 in the third in a game which seemed to last forever. It had 14 hits and took advantage of eight Frederick American errors on its way to the easy win. Corey Albaugh had the most hits for Frederick National with three, which included a pair of doubles. Heath Dahlgren and Mike Omelchenko each had two hits for National and Phil Reese had two hits with a double. Reese and Ian Poland combined to hold Frederick American to four hits and five runs in the third.
July 14, 2005
American tops National
Will meet Thurmont today for championship
Threatening weather caused John Hicks and his Frederick American teammates to wait about 35 minutes for the start of Wednesday's District 2 11-12 Little League semifinal against crosstown-rival Frederick National. It wound up being worth the wait. As American's No. 4 hitter, Hicks belted a one-out, solo home run over the left-field fence in the top of the first inning. His shot came as part of a nine run, 13-batter first as American advanced to today's district championship game with a 14-0 win over National. The game was called after four innings because of the 10-run rule. The win sends American back to the district championship game after a two year absence. Today's winner gets to stay in Frederick because the state 11-12 Little League Tournament will be held at Robert B. Staley Stadium, home of Frederick National Little League. In this division of Little League Baseball, there is no host team status. Teams must win their way into the next level of tournament play. "We've been wanting to get back to the district championship game and a chance at going back to the state tournament," said the 12-year-old Hicks, American's starting second baseman. "It's going to make for an exciting final in the districts." Also getting in on the home run action, balling in the second slot in the order, was Deandre Scott. Scott, a center fielder, hit a 1-1 pitch off National starter Mark Knott and sent the ball sailing over the right-field fence for a two-run homer. "I saw that first pitch coming (a strike) and I'm thinking: 'Whoa!,'" said Scott said, who then waited out the next pitch, a ball, before swinging at the third offering. "It was a fastball," Scott said. "I knew I had to try and hit it out. It was up there pretty high and 1 thought it had a chance to go out. Then, I saw it go out and it felt real good." Scott ended up going 3-for-3 with his homer, a double and four RHIs. Alex Keller went 3-for-3 with a double and two RBIs for American. Kyle Staley had two hits with a double for American and Gerardo Dudamel had two hits. Ryan McDowell had a two-run double in the first for American. Eight of the nine starters in American's lineup scored at least one run in the first. American went on to score two runs in the second and three in the third. American pounded out 16 hits through four innings. Corey Droneburg hurled an abbreviated complete-game one-hitter with eight strikeouts and one walk. Tyler Specht spoiled Droneburg's bid for a no-hitter when he beat out an infield single in the fourth.
July 17, 2005
Sticking to game plan pays off for Thurmont
Thurmont's plan to defeat Frederick American in Saturday's District 2 11-12 Little League championship game at Robert B. Staley Stadium was not complicated. It was simple. Come through with good, clutch hitting throughout the starting lineup on offense and back it up with solid defense and good pitching. The northern county team did all of that well and came away with its second district 11-12 title in the last three years, defeating American, 11-0. The game was called after four innings because of the 10-run rule. With this year's district crown comes an added bonus — staying close by in the county for the state tournament. Frederick National Little League is hosting this year's state 11-12 tournament at Staley Stadium, which begins next Saturday. Add to that bonus yet another perk. District 2 drew a bye in the seven-team, double-elimination tournament and moves right into the second round, which means Thurmont does not play until next Sunday at 3:30 p.m. Thurmont will face the District 1 (Western Maryland)-District 5 (Northern Maryland) champion. "This brings back a lot of memories for me," Thurmont shortstop Landon Routzahn said. "I remember as a 9-year-old when we won the district title two years ago and how exciting that was. It was a big thing and winning this year in the district championship game adds to all of the good things that have happened to us. We were hoping we would get the chance to get back to the district championship someday and we finally made it." One good thing that happened to Routzahn on Saturday was a three-run home run over the fence in left field in the top of the second inning with one out. Routzahn hit the first offering from American reliever Chuck Fleming and sent it sailing. "It was a fastball," Routzahn said, "I just waited for it." The previous inning, Thurmont's Nick Krstanovic got his chance to go long hall, and he didn't miss. Krstanovic hit the first pitch from American starter Deandre Scott and the shot went over the fence in straightaway center field for a two-run homer. "It was a fastball down the middle," Krstanovic said. "I wanted a good pitch and 1 got it." The homers by Routzahn and Krstanovic helped Thurmont gain a big advantage over American in the early innings. Thurmont built up a 7-0 lead on American through two innings and then added four runs in the fourth to help bring the game to an early end. Krstanovic was one of two Thurmont players to have multi-hit games. He and teammate Matt Gautnny each had two hits and R.J. Smith had a two-run double in the second. For the game, Thurmont had nine hits. "They played with a lot of confidence," American manager Rick Wilson said. "They got the hits when they needed them and were sharp on defense. They're at the point where we hope to be in the future. They looked like young adults out there on the field, playing very well." With Thurmont's offense on track, it made Tanner Ausherman's pitching duties a lot easier. Ausherman pitched a complete-game victory, hurling an abbreviated three-hitter with four strikeouts. He did not walk a batter. "I threw mainly the fastball," Ausherman said. "It mixed it up with some curveballs, but I would come back with the fastball on the third strike." "He was smoking them in there," Wilson said. "We couldn't hit him. It was amazing." The lone American player able to get to Ausherman was Gerardo Dudamel, who went 2-for-2 with singles in the first and fourth. Casey Friedland beat out an infield single in the fourth for American.
July 20, 2005
Youth baseball paradise – Bill Cauley
THIS IS MY favorite time of year in sports — youth baseball tournaments. As I begin my 32nd year of covering sports at The Frederick News-Post, I think back to when it all began in the summer of 1974, when I was covering state Babe Ruth and Little League tournaments. Things have come a long way since then. There are more opportunities for youngsters to learn to play baseball and Softball. The Little League tournaments back then were single-elimination. One bad game and you were out. Since the formats changed to either double-elimination or pool play, more teams and programs sprang up. Most youth leagues back then didn't start their seasons until late April or early May. Tournaments started in mid-July and ran through mid- August. You look at recent schedules and they start in late March or early April and continue through mid-August. Last year, Frederick's 14-year-old Babe Ruth team added another week to the tournament schedule, advancing to the 14-year-old World Series in Wilson, N.C., where it finished third. The summer sports season is a paradise, for me, the players, managers and coaches, and — most important — the parents and volunteers who support them.
FOR THE NEXT two weeks, that paradise is going to be enhanced 10-fold as far as I'm concerned. The Frederick area is hosting three state youth baseball tournaments and two regional tournaments. The most recognized youth baseball organization around the world is Little league Baseball. This year, Frederick National Little League hosts the state 11-12 tournament, the main division of the organization, at Robert B. Staley Stadium, beginning at noon on Saturday. The state Little League Tournament was last held in Frederick seven years ago at Staley Stadium. Hughesville, of Charles County, won the state crown that year. The tournament rotates from district to district each year, and it's Frederick's turn this year. Seven teams from seven districts across the state converge on Staley Stadium for the double-elimination tournament, which is expected to draw hundreds of fans each day. The tournament runs through Thursday, July 28. If an extra game is needed to determine a state champion, it would be played on Friday, July 29. The local entry in this year's state Little League Tournament is Thurmont, which won the District 2 championship Saturday, blanking Frederick American, 11-0. Thurmont is making its second trip to the state tournament in the last three years. Thurmont has also received a first-round bye and will not play until 3:30 p.m. on Sunday in the second round of the tournament. Thurmont will play the winner of District 1 (Western Maryland) and District 5 (Northern Maryland) in that game. Opening ceremonies are scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday. Frederick National Little League officials, as well as other Little League officials from across District 2 and the state, are working to create a festival-like atmosphere for the weeklong tournament. Judging by the way they ran the 1998 state Little League Tournament, this one should be another winner.
2005 – Thurmont
District 2 Champions
Thurmont
Host - Frederick (District 2) At Staley Stadium
Tournament Results:
District Round:
Frederick National vs
Frederick National vs
Frederick National vs
Frederick National vs
• • 2006 • •
July 2, 2006
Little League is doing just fine
FREDERICK ~ For the past year, we have heard about the demise of Little League baseball about how fewer children are playing, about how fewer teams can be fielded and about how local leagues were forced to merge. From what I read, and from what I heard from concerned parents, it seemed the history rich Little leagues were in grave danger. Not quite. If last week's District 2 Little League Tournament of Champions and city championship are any indication, plenty of local families still care about youth baseball. When the rain finally stopped, the Little Leaguers put on quite a show. Taylor Hyssong, Mark Knott and Andrew Lombardi hit dramatic home runs. Malt Wilson had a 16-strikeout performance. The coaches were enthusiastic. The players were skilled. The spectators were well behaved. Little League baseball is not going away anytime soon. To believe otherwise would be to bet against history, tradition and the will of passionate Fredericktonians. Frederick American is in its 51st season. East Frederick has been around for 40 years. While the two leagues were forced to merge this year for interleague regular season play, there were plenty of talented players to go around. City champion Sertoma had two of its reserves get hits in the city title game. If the backups can hit, then team depth isn't much of an issue. Nor is leadership. Local Little League organizations are lucky enough to have supporters who are stubborn enough to press forward regardless of how many teams are out there. Frederick American President Rick Wilson is a fine spokesman for Little League baseball. Much of the information in last week's stories came from him. He is the sort of outgoing leader any organization would covet. Danny Miller managed to run a wonderful Tournament of Champions event at Staley Field, perhaps the nicest venue to take in a local baseball game. The grill was up and operational, providing tasty (and cheap) treats for the spectators. The fans crowded around home plate. The field, despite taking in several inches of rain, was in fine shape. Local barber Jay Wastler was around Staley Field for much of the action this week. Wastler's Barbershop, where I got my first haircut two decades ago. was one of the many sponsors with signs covering the Staley Stadium outfield fence. Sertoma manager Brian Smith devoted four years to reviving his squad and molding it into championship form. When Sertoma won the title game, he was one of the first to jump into the postgame celebration pile. Now that's passion. Soccer will continue to draw youth players. So will lacrosse, tennis, track, football and gymnastics, among other sports. But enough long-time Frederick residents care enough to ensure that baseball will continue to be a popular youth sport. The number of Little League teams may be dwindling, but the area keeps finding athletes, many of which are second and third generation baseball players. Most of the county high school baseball powers boasted excellent sophomore and freshmen classes. Expect more high school teams to contend for region and state titles in the next few years. The majority of those high schoolers got their start in the Frederick Little Leagues. They may not have as many players as before, but those who are still involved keep putting on a great show. Players up to two more chances to secure game balls. "We think it’s a neat thing to do for the kids," Foltz said. "Hopefully, they come away with a souvenir to remind them of their Little League days."
July 6, 2006
Tourney season arrives for youth baseball
FREDERICK – Post season youth baseball begins today with the District 2 11-12 Little League Tournament starting at two sites in the county. Frederick National plays host to Four County at Robert B. Staley Stadium, while Thurmont, the defending state champion, hosts Brunswick. Both games begin at 6 p.m. Frederick American and Westminster have drawn first-round byes in the double-elimination tournament and do not play until Friday. Frederick American faces the Frederick National-Four County winner at 6 p.m. on Friday, while Westminster plays the Brunswick-Thurmont winner at 6 p.m. on Friday. Since East Frederick is not fielding an all-star team in the 11-12 division this year, the tournament format changed from pool play to double-elimination. The tournament continues through July 13 and, if needed, July 14. The district winner advances to the slate 11-12 tournament at Arbutus Middle School in Baltimore County, July 22-23.
July 7, 2006
Nationals Win
In other District 2 action on Thursday, a grand slam by E J. Wrzesinski in the top of the fifth inning powered Frederick National to a 7-4 win over Four County at Robert B. Staley Stadium in Frederick. Frederick American, which also drew a first-round bye, hosts Frederick National at 6 p.m. today in a winners' bracket game at Austin F. Angleberger Memorial Stadium.
Frederick National 7, Four County 4
FREDERICK- Back-to-back home runs by J. D Williams and Mark Knott in the top of the third helped set the stage for National's win. But it would be Wrzesinski's grand slam that would clinch it in the fifth. Four County was leading 4-3 at the time. Knott had three hits and Williams had two. Knott also pitched a complete-game victory with 11 strikeouts and two earned runs. Ryan Milburn had two doubles for Four County which plays today's Thurmont-Westminster loser at 6 p m on Monday at a site to be determined later
July 8, 2006
National looks for first title since '98
FREDERICK - The last time Frederick National Little League won a District 2 11-12 championship was in 1998, when it hosted the state tournament. Since then, the city-based team has come close but not won any titles. On Friday, however, Frederick National served notice it was back in the hunt for a crown. Behind the three-hit pitching of E.J. Wrzesinski and good hitting from Mark Knott and David Janus, Frederick National beat crosstown-rival Frederick American, 12-2, in a five-inning game at Austin F. Angleberger Memorial Stadium, American's home field. The win sends Frederick National into the winners' bracket finals of the double-elimination tournament at 6 p.m. Monday at Leisner Field in Thurmont, where it faces defending-state champion Thurmont, which ripped Westminster, 14-1, on Friday (four innings) at Bennett Cerf Park in Westminster to reach the finals of the winners' bracket as well. Frederick American plays at Brunswick at 6 p.m. in a losers' bracket game on Monday. Four County plays host to Westminster in a losers' bracket game, also at 6 p.m. on Monday. "This is my last year, so I would like to finish out winning the districts," Janus said. He was all of 5 years old the last time Frederick National won the district title and knows all about the league's successful tradition. On Friday, he had three hits and drove in a run. Wrzesinski pitched a five-inning, complete-game victory for Frederick National with five strikeouts. He allowed one earned run. "I stuck with the fastball and used a changeup a few times," he said. "I was trying to keep the ball down." Knott, who bats fourth in the batting order for Frederick National, had three hits with three RBI’s. He had an RBI single in the first and added a key two-run single in the fourth, when Frederick National sent 11 batters to the plate, scored five runs and chased Frederick American starter Matt Wilson. Knott said he had been having trouble with some pitches in previous plate appearances but has been improving. "I like to get into the fastball," he said. Wrzesinski had two hits with three RBIs. Frederick American's two runs scored in the second on a passed ball and a fielder's choice. Judd Zeigler drove in a run.
July 11, 2006
New players help Thurmont stay on track for repeat
THURMONT — If you want to get technical, Thurmont is attempting to win a second consecutive District 2 11-12 Little League championship. But shortstop Brent Heinzl is the only Thurmont player who is back to defend the title. Everybody else is new. No problem so far. Heinzl, the lone returnee, went 4-for-4 with four RBIs to lead Thurmont to a 7-4 win over Frederick National on Monday before an overflow crowd at Leisner Field. When asked why nobody else stuck around, Heinzl gave a matter-of-fact answer. "Most of them were just too old," he said. Not Heinzl, who was one of the few 11-year-olds on last year's team. Last year, Heinzl desired to play for a Cal Ripken team based in Thurmont, but such a squad never materialized. He wound up playing for a Thurmont squad that won a state title. Heinzl, who drove in two runs in the first, one in the third and one more for good measure in the sixth, did notice a few changes this year. "There were a lot more people here," Heinzl said. Fans crammed the multi-colored bleachers, peered over the dugout and lined the outfield fence. Umpires had to double as crowd-control specialists, instructing spectators to move away from taboo areas in the outfield and home plate. A few Thurmont players admitted being nervous for their first few at-bats, but they advanced in the winner's bracket. Thurmont will host the Frederick National-Brunswick winner on Thursday. Ben Tylicki had two doubles for Thurmont. Josh Laramore had three hits, including a double. J.B. Williams paced National by going 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Leadoff hitter David Janus went 3-for-4. Thurmont pitcher Nick Maxey kept his composure following a lengthy delay between innings. An umpire said Maxey was not staying in contact with the rubber. Several adults, including all three umpires met at the pitcher's mound with the Little league rule book open to determine if Maxey's delivery was legal. After the umpires and administrators were satisfied that his motion met criteria, Maxey recovered to throw two scoreless innings.
July 12, 2006
BRUNSWICK — Zach Dinges liked. playing long ball against Westminster on Tuesday in the District 2 11-12 Little League Tournament. The Brunswick right-hander hit two of his team's three home runs and helped pave the way for a 5-2 win in a losers' bracket elimination game, ending Westminster's stay in the double elimination tournament. Brunswick moves on to the championship game of the losers' bracket today at Robert B. Staley Stadium, where it faces Frederick National at 8 p.m.
July 13, 2006
In a District 2 11-12 elimination round game today, Frederick National hosts Brunswick at 6 p.m. at Staley Stadium. That winner will play at defending state champion Thurmont. the champion of the winners' bracket, for the district championship. The date and time of that game will also be announced later. The winner of that championship advances to the state tournament.
July 14, 2006
Power-hitting Brunswick slugs way past National
LITTLE LEAGUE I District2 11-12 Tournament
FREDERICK — As per Brunswick Little League tradition, athletes who hit home runs get to keep their home run balls. Assuming the balls can be found, of course. "Otherwise," Brunswick manager Brad Foltz said, "we have to make do with what we have." Four Brunswick 11-12 Little Leaguers left Staley Stadium clutching home run balls, following a 15-3 victory over Frederick National in the loser's bracket final. Zach Dinges, Todd Cutsall, Josh Merriman and Zach Struss all hit home runs for Brunswick which travels to Thurmont tonight at 6 for the District II championship. Up until this point, Brunswick had relied on pitching, namely the arms of Cutsail and Matt Wanger to advance. Brunswick had little trouble scoring runs on Wednesday. Dinges and Struss had back-to-back home runs in the first, sparking an offensive display that was halted by the mercy rule in the fourth Cutsail had a home run, a double and two RBIs — in one inning. "I've never done that before," said a laughing Cutsail. After the game, Cutsail kept flipping his home run ball in the air — or what appeared to be his home run bal. The ball had his name, the dale and the game written on it. But because Cutsail had crushed his home run into the trees behind the Staley Stadium fence, it could not be retrieved. Thus, a replica ball had to be used. Two other home run balls could not be found. For logistical purposes, the Brunswick players were hitting the ball too hard. Not that Foltz was complaining. "Hopefully this gives us a confidence boost," he said. Other big hits came from throughout the lineup. A.J. Fogle had a double and two RBIs for Brunswick. Struss had two hits and two RBIs. Timmy McDermid had a RBI base hit. Middle infielders Dylan Brown (second base) and Fogle (shortstop) also turned a double play in the second. E.J. Wrzesinski had a home run for Frederick National, which is eliminated from the tournament. Brunswick faces Thurmont tonight at 6. To win this double elimination tournament, Brunswick must beat Thurmont twice. If a second game is needed, it is scheduled for Saturday, which gives the Brunswick player
2006 - South Caroline (Preston)
District 2 Champions
Thurmont
Tournament Results:
District Round:
Frederick National vs Four County won 7-4
Frederick National vs Frederick American won 12-2
Frederick National vs Thurmont lost 7-4
Frederick National vs Brunswick lost 15-3
• • 2007 • •
July 13, 2007
National trounces Thurmont
Frederick National ended Thurmont's two-year reign as District 2 11-12 Little League champion on Thursday, taking advantage of six errors on its way to an abbreviated, 16-4 win in the district semifinals at Robert B. Staley Stadium. The game was called after five innings because of the 10-run rule. Westminster is the only team that stands in the way of National's first district 11-12 title in almost 10 years, Westminster ousted Four County in Thursday's other district semifinal game and hosts National at 1 p.m. on Saturday for the championship at Bennett Cerf Park. Travis Phelps was the winning pitcher for Frederick National on Thursday. He pitched 4 1-3 innings with four hits and eight strikeouts. Phelps said he was surprised National won the game by such a large margin, given Thurmont's previous record of success during the last three years in district play. Thurmont won the state 11-12 title two years ago. "Thurmont has been really good in the past," Phelps said. "They usually crush the ball and hit it real hard." Instead, the best effort Thurmont could give on Thursday was in the last of the fourth inning, when it scored three runs. Zach Jones blasted a two-run home run over the left-center field fence to highlight the inning. Thurmont also got a single run in the first on an RBI single by Austin Boggs. Phelps said he used a combination of fastballs and curveballs to keep the Thurmont batters off balance. He said he had to leave the game with one out in the fifth because he was approaching his pitch limit of 85. Phelps was relieved by Jerel English, who retired both batters he faced. Other than Jones' homer and Boggs' double, Thurmont got a double to left by Brad Little and an RBI single by Zach Willard. With Phelps and English keeping Thurmont's batters in check, National used a pair of high-scoring innings to hasten the abbreviated win. National scored four runs in the third and sent 10 batters to the plate in a six-run fourth. National clinched the win with three runs in the fifth.
July 15, 2007
Local squad remains calm to rally for title-clinching win over Westminster
WESTMINSTER — Frederick National won the District 2 11-12 Little League championship on Saturday to end an eight-year drought, coming from behind to defeat Westminster, 7-5, at Bennett Cerf Park. Trailing the host team 4-2 in the top of the fifth inning, National scored four runs —two on a game-tying home run by Travis Phelps — to retake the lead, then added a game- clinching run in the sixth on a solo homer by Ian Foland. National, which has not won a district 11-12 crown since 1998, when it hosted the state Little League Tournament, faces the District 6 (upper Eastern Shore) champion at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Rising Sun in Cecil County. In most of its previous district games, National won by virtue of the 10-run rule after four or five innings. That didn't happen on Saturday. National held a 2-1 lead in the last of the fourth when Westminster scored three runs, two on a double by Ben Shamer, for a 4-2 lead. That didn't leave National a lot of time to rally with two innings to go. But with one out in the fifth, National began its comeback. Foland singled to left and moved to second on a passed ball. Phelps then cleared the bases with his shot over the fence in left field. The score was tied at 4-4. "At first, we were thinking we might be getting close to being out of the game," said Phelps, who has four homers in tournament play. "But coach (National manager Dewayne Ellis) told us not to get down on ourselves, that we would be able to come back, and that two runs down is nothing." National continued to take Ellis' advice the rest of the way. It scored two more runs in the fifth, one on a RBI single to left by Blake Lincoln and another on a Westminster error to take a 6-4 lead. National sent 10 batters to the plate in the fifth and chased Westminster starter Nick Saldana in the process. Foland said the team was nervous when it was behind, but remained confident it could come back. "We got real excited when we took the lead back," he said. "The home run ball I hit was a fastball right down the middle. I was waiting on that pitch." "I knew at the start of the game it wouldn't be a short one, where we would win on the 10-run rule," Ellis said. "Westminster has a very good team with a lot of good players. For some of our players, it was the first time they'd been involved in a game like this." Ellis said the key to winning the game was not to panic when National fell behind. He said the team had to come back for a win over Brunswick in district play, so he wasn't surprised when National rallied against Westminster. Winning the championship on Saturday was special to Ellis. He said the last time National took the crown, his son, David, was on the team. "It's a good feeling once again," he said. National took its first lead with a run in the first on an RBI ground-rule double by Daniel Medina. Westminster tied the score in the last of the second on a two-out, solo homer by Zach Renner. A Westminster error in the fourth gave National a 2-1 lead in the fourth. Medina was National's starter, but he was relieved in the third by Michael Omelchenko. Medina allowed one earned run through two innings, while Omelchenko, who picked up the win in relief, allowed five hits with six strikeouts, one walk and a hit batter. He struck out the side in the sixth, adding an exclamation point to National's win. "We just needed to stay positive when we were down two runs," Omelchenko said. "We just had to work our way out of it and what I needed to do was just throw strikes." Foland led National with three hits and Phelps had two. Westminster's Zach Dudley had three hits. Foland summed up the idea of National going back to the state tournament for the first time in nine years. "I like it," he said. Eric Kennedy, who had four triples in a win over East Frederick on Tuesday, had a grand slam in the fourth on Thursday. "I saw a lot of fastballs today," he said, noting that's what he hit for his grand slam. Phelps led National in hitting with a leadoff homer in the fifth and a leadoff triple in the third. Daniel Medina had a two-run homer in the third and Justin Wells had a RBI double in the second.
July 22, 2007
National 11-12 falls to Easton
RISING SUN — Frederick National was able to recover from one bad inning on Saturday in the opening round of the state 11-12 Little League Tournament, but not two. Easton took advantage of that second bad inning to score five runs and went on to advance in the winner's bracket of the double elimination tournament with an 8-4 win at Rising Sun Little League Complex. National drops into the elimination bracket, where it will play Federal (Hagerstown) at 7 p.m., today. Easton, a frequent visitor to the state tournament, faces Elkton at 1 p.m., today, in a winner's bracket game. Elkton drew a first-round bye in the tournament. For National, making its first appearance in the state 11-12 Little League Tournament in nine years, Saturday was an error-filled day. The city team committed four errors, including three in the last of the first inning. "This was clearly not our best game today," National manager Dewayne Ellis said, adding Easton took advantage of National's mistakes. National faces an uphill fight in the tournament and must play and win every day in order to have a shot at reaching the championship round on Thursday. National took advantage of an Easton error in the top of the first to push across a single run for a 1-0 lead. But that advantage was gone in the last of the first when it gave up two unearned runs on three errors. A third run scored that inning on an RBI single from Tayvon Blake. Easton had a 3-1 lead but National regrouped in the third with three runs. A leadoff home run over the wall in left center field by Eric Kennedy cut Easton's lead to two, 4-2. Easton starter Justis Mills then issued back-to-back walks to Zach Petrill and Jerel English but was able to strike out Blake Lincoln. Duntel Watts laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners up and Ian Roland followed with a grounder to the Easton shortstop, whose throw to first base was wild, allowing Petrill and English to score. National had regained the lead, 4-3 and, behind the pitching of starter Travis Phelps, clung to that advantage through the next two innings. But a long and frustrating fifth awaited National. RBI singles from Jahad Mills, Nick Pippin and Zach Corrpa. A passed ball and a National error allowed Easton to score five runs to take an 8-4 lead. Ellis said he was pleased National was able to bounce back after the bad first inning but the fifth turned out to be costly and the team could not recover from it. National had one last chance to get back in the game in the top of the sixth with one out when Petrill and English got back-to-back singles off Justis Mills. Mills struck out Lincoln and had to leave the game after that because he had reached his pitch count. Taylor Slaugenhauth came on in relief to face Duntel Watts, who grounded out to end the game. During the fifth, Phelps, who was reaching his pitch-limit count of 85, was tiring and was pulled in favor of left-hander English with two runners on base an and none out. Phelps allowed three earned runs with six strikeouts, three walks and a hit batter. English gave up three earned runs with two strikeouts and a walk. "Travis pitched a good game, but he ran out of gas," Ellis said. "We went with Jerel on the mound because he had been looking good in practice and wanted to give him a shot at it." Ellis also said he wanted to see how Easton's right-handed batters would react against left-handed pitching. Kennedy led National with two hits, including his homer; and Petrill and Danny Medina also had two hits each. Blake had two hits for Easton. "Easton came prepared to play," Ellis said. "They took away our running game." Easton threw out two National runners trying to steal bases.
July 23, 2007
National ousted in state tourney
RISING SUN— Federal, of Hagerstown, eliminated Frederick National from the state 11-12 Little League Tournament in a big way on Sunday. Federal hit four home runs against two National pitchers and ousted the city team, 14-4, in an elimination-round contest. Federal moves on in the elimination bracket and plays again today. National had gone undefeated through district play before being handed two straight losses in the state tournament. On Saturday in the tournament opener when Easton beat National, 8-4. National was able to keep the game close in the first three innings in Sunday's game. A Danny Medina two-run home run in the last of the third cut Federal's lead to 3-2 after three innings. But the fourth and fifth innings turned bad for National. Federal scored six runs in the fourth and five in the fifth to break the game open and end it after five innings because of the 10-run rule. Michael Omelchenko had two hits for National Cory Albaugh had a double. Medina was the starting pitcher for National but he was relieved in the fourth by Omelchenko. Alex Courtney led Federal with two home runs and six RBIs.
2007 - West Salisbury
District 2 Champions
Frederick National (Dewayne Ellis)
Tournament Results:
District Round: Dewayne Ellis
Frederick National vs Brunswick won 8-6
Frederick National vs East Frederick won 19-1
Frederick National vs Thurmont won 16-4
Frederick National vs Westminster won 7-5
State Tournament
Frederick National vs Easton loss 8-4
Frederick National vs Federal loss 14-4
• • 2008 • •
July 7, 2008
Frederick National 23, EF 2
Dylan Davey had three hits for the winners. Jerel English had a home run and a triple, Brad Wastler a home run and a double and Josh McClain two hits. Tyler Craney had two hits for East Frederick
July 11, 2008
Three local LL teams win district games
Brunswick, Thurmont and Frederick National were all winners in the final day of pool play of the District 2 11-12 Little League Tournament Thursday. Brunswick defeated Westminster, 17-2; Thurmont defeated Frederick American, 18-10; and National defeated Four County, 13-10. Brunswick, Thurmont, National and Four County have qualified for the championship semfinal bracket Saturday. Brunswick will host Four County and National hosts Thurmont. Both games begin at 5 p.m. Saturday. The championship game is set for 5 p.m. Sunday.
National 13, Four County 10
There were seven homers hit in the game and Frederick National hit four of them on its way to the win. Brad Wastler led National with two homers and Josh McClain had a grand slam in the sixth. Dillon Davy also homered for National.
July 13, 2008
National, Brunswick to meet for district title
Two traditional county Little League powers will meet today for the District 2 11-12 championship. Defending champion Frederick National will host Brunswick at 5 p.m. at Robert B. Staley Stadium for the right to advance to the state tournament, which begins Saturday at Easton. National earned a return trip to the district title game with a 14-3 win over Thurmont Saturday. Brunswick, seeking its first district 11-12 crown since 1995, reached today's title game with an 18-0 win over Four County. National scored nine runs in the fifth on its way to the win. Phil Reese, Blake Lincoln and Brad Wastler each had a home run for National. Both Reese's and Wastler's homers drove in three runs. Wastler led National with two hits. Reese pitched a complete game with six strikeouts, five hits and one walk. For Thurmont, Colby Smith and Cory Hendrickson each had a home run.
July 15, 2008
Phil 'er up
National's Reese blasts two home runs to pace victory over Brunswick
Unlike last season, when Phil Reese was confined to hitting home runs in his living room chair on a video game system, these blasts were real and meaningful. After missing last season's championship season because of a torn labrum in his right shoulder, Reese was one of the heroes Monday night as Frederick National won its second straight District 2 11-12 Little League Tournament title at Robert B. Staley Stadium. He drove in four runs on a pair of two-run blasts to center field in Frederick's 5-3 victory over Brunswick, moving National into the Maryland State Little League Tournament. National will play the District 7 champion at 3 p.m. on Saturday in Easton. The second homer, Reese didn't even catch cleanly with his bat. He caught a 1-2 curveball from Brunswick starter Dallas Darling on the end of his bat and gave it a ride with one out in the fifth inning. "I was just trying to stay alive in the count," Reese said. "I have no idea how I got that much on it. I guess I just stayed back and shifted through (on the swing) pretty good I guess." Brunswick center fielder Joey Conrad spilled over the fence after trying to catch the ball. He returned to the game after taking a few moments to collect his breath. Reese's power surge backed up a strong pitching performance by starter Jerel English, who struck out 10 before being removed in the fifth inning because he had reached the 85-pitch limit. "My curveball and my fastball were really working," English said. "I just wanted to come out and do well because we won this last year. We wanted to do it again. We wanted to do it again." English set up a three-run fifth inning for National. He broke up a string of four strikeouts in a row for Darling with a single to center field. English then scored from first base on a double by Dylan Davey that took a bad hop to the fence. That set up Reese to clear the bases one more time. "This has got to be pretty sweet for him," National coach Danny Miller said. "At the time of the injury, some people thought he might never play again." During National's run to the district title last season, Reese was at home doing everything possible to keep his mind of the game. "I couldn't stand it," he said. "I had to something with baseball every day, whether it was video games or something else. Sometimes, I would just watch TV." Now, Reese was leading the way as National paraded the district championship banner around the field. Brunswick scored a run in each of the first two innings on a passed ball and wild pitch, respectively. It took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth when Trent Masser doubled down the right-field line, scoring Cody Wenner from first base. "Our kids had a really nice run. I am really proud of all of them," Brunswick coach Mark Tarleton said. "I can safely say that baseball in Brunswick is in pretty good shape." Brad Wastler pitched the final two innings for Frederick and retired every batter he faced. He struck out five, including the final two to clinch the championship. "This is the first time I have won a district championship," said Wastler, who celebrated after the final out by hurling his glove back toward the dugout. "It feels great."
July 20, 2008
National LL wins
EASTON -- Frederick National Little League's 11-12 team opened up against Hughesville Saturday with three straight singles and scored four runs in the first inning. The rest was easy and the city team cruised to a 10-0, four-inning win over the Charles County team in the opening round of the state tournament at North Easton. "It kind of surprised me a little bit," National manager Danny Miller said of the win, which was called after four innings due to the 10-run rule. "Usually, Hughesville has a pretty strong team. But we came out swinging, we got a lot of good hitting and played with a lot of confidence." National advances in the winner's bracket of the double-elimination event, where it faces the Federal (Hagerstown)-South Maryland winner at 3 p.m. today on Butler Field. Brad Wastler was the big hitter for National with three, including a home run and a double. Blake Lincoln and Phil Reese each had two hits with a homer. "Phil's homer was a long one," Miller said. "I figured it was about 270 feet." Dylan Davey added two hits for National. Reese was the National starter, hurling three innings of one-hit baseball. He was relieved in the fourth by Wastler. Miller said he took Reese out after 39 pitches in case he needed him in relief for the next game.
July 21, 2008
Local Roundup Fred. National loses in state 11-12 LL
EASTON -- One bad inning by Frederick National was all it took for Federal (Hagerstown) to overtake the city team and win, 5-4, in a winner's bracket game of the state 11-12 Little League Tournament at North Easton Park. The loss drops National into the elimination round of the double-elimination tournament, where it faces North East, of Cecil County, at 5:30 p.m. today. National held a 4-2 lead in the last of the fifth inning when the combination of a throwing error and a two-run double gave Federal its 5-4 lead. National was able to get a base runner on board in the sixth, but the runner was stranded. "You take away that one inning, it could have been different," National manager Danny Miller said. "It was a great ballgame for 4 1/2 innings. The kids are upset right now because of the way we lost the game at the end. It was a tight ballgame." Miller said the next thing the team needs to do is regroup for today's game with North East. "We're still in this thing and we can bounce back." Blake Lincoln had a home run for National and Dylan Davey drove in two runs. Jerel English pitched a complete game for National. "I thought Jerel had a fantastic ball game," Miller said. He also said it was a shame the game had to end the way it did because of how well English was pitching.
July 22, 2008
National 11-12s knocked out of state tournament
EASTON -- North East frustrated Frederick National's 11-12 Little League team on Tuesday in state tournament action, holding it to one run and eliminating the city team, 6-1, at North Easton Park. "Nothing went right for us today," Frederick manager Danny Miller said. "Every time we would hit the ball, it would be right at them. We just could not get anything going and North East played pretty solid defense." North East took a 5-0 lead in the game and did not look back. "It's tough to come back from a deficit like that," Miller said. Blake Lincoln and Brad Wastler each had two hits for National.
2008 - Hagerstown Federal
District 2 Champions
Frederick National (Danny Miller)
Tournament Results:
District Round: Danny Miller
Frederick National vs East Frederick won 23-2
Frederick National vs Four County won 13-10
Frederick National vs Thurmont won 14-3
Frederick National vs Brunswick won 5-3
State Tournament : Easton
Frederick National vs Hughesville won 10-0
Frederick National vs Federal loss 5-4
Frederick National vs North East loss 6-1
• • 2009 • •
July 12, 2009
District 2 11-12, First Round
Brunswick 14, National 6
Brunswick used a 10-batter, seven-run fifth to open up a big lead on National at Robert B. Staley Stadium. Jeremy Garrott led Brunswick with three hits, including a home run, double and five RBIs. Adam Fitzwater had four hits with a double, Joe Rindone had two hits with a double and Doug Pearl had three hits with a homer. Brunswick hosts Frederick American in a second-round game at 5 p.m. today National plays at Westminster in an elimination- round game at 5 p.m.
July 15, 2009
MAHALCHICK, AMERICAN JUMP TO CONCLUSION
Nothing like a well-timed leap to keep a season alive for Frederick American. Jonathan Mahalchick, perhaps, jumped higher than he had all season to snare a hot line drive off the bat of Frederick National's Jacob Medina in the top of sixth inning of Tuesday's night District 2 11-12 Little League elimination game at Robert B. Staley Stadium. Mahalchick nearly turned a game-ending double play, too, with a quick throw to second base. But the final play of American's dramatic 16-15 victory over the defending District 2 champions came a batter later as second baseman Maciah Thomas moved to his right to field the ball and then tossed it to first for the final out. "I had a big adrenaline rush," Mahalchick said of his leaping catch. "I didn't know 1 could jump that high." When the ball was heading his way at a brisk speed, Mahalchick was "scared" that he'd miss the ball, allowing Tommy Phelps of Frederick National to score the potential tying run from second-base in what had already been a topsy-turvy contest. But, as it turned out, American lived to play another game. The team will host Thurmont in another elimination game today at 6 p.m. "My heart can't take too much more of this," American coach Rick Wilson said after the game. American overcame an early 5-1 deficit, then went ahead 14-6 after scoring eight runs in the second inning and still had to sweat it out. National scored four runs in the fifth and barely put the bat on the ball. The team had just one hit in the inning yet managed to tie t h e game. But American responded quickly in the bottom of the fifth. Thomas led off with a double and the next batter, Xavier Sewell, brought him home with a double of his own. Sewell then scored the winning run when he came home from third base on a sacrifice fly to center by Travis Barbe. It was a key play because National's Josh McClain began the sixth by belting his third home run of the game well beyond the fence in left field, slicing the deficit to a single run. National put the tying run, Phelps, on third base after a passed ball before Mahalchick, Thomas and pitcher Nate Schwemmer shut the door for American. "Lot of big hits," National coach Danny Miller said. "It was a great 16-15 ballgame. Well played by both teams." The inning American might look back on is the fifth, when it scored five runs with two outs. Mahalchick drove in two runs with a single and the next batter, Barbe, launched a three-run homer. Thomas and Trace Russ also smacked home runs for American. Russ' was a grand slam in the second. "I knew we could hit the ball. 1 just thought our pitching would hold up a little better," said Wilson, relieved there was still some life left in his team's season.
2009 - Conococheague (Williamsport)
District 2 Champions
Brunswick Railroaders
Tournament Results:
District Round: Danny Miller
Frederick National vs Brunswick lost 14-6
Frederick National vs Frederick American lost 16-15
• • 2010 • •
July 13, 2010
Frederick National 11, Four County 1
In Sunday's win. National's Myles Mensah had three doubles in a five-game inning game. Casey Johnson had a triple. Zeb Ahalt had a double. Dylan Hall was the winning pitcher National plays at Brunswick at 6 p.m., Wednesday. in the winners' bracket final. Andrew Schoeffler had a double for Four County, which hosts Westminster in an elimination-round game at 6 p.m. today. Frederick American hosts Thurmont in another elimination-round game at 6 p.m. today.
July 15, 2010
BRUNSWICK DEFEATS FREDERICK NATIONAL
BRUNSWICK - The latest round of the long-standing District 2 Little League Tournament rivalry between Frederick National and Brunswick went to the hosts Wednesday, With home runs by Joe Rindone and Justin Walls and the combined pitching of Rindone, Andrew Wanger and Tyler Babyak, the defending district 11-12 champion advanced to Friday 's title game with a 9-1 win over National in the winners' bracket final, Brunswick hosts today's elimination round winner between National and Thurmont at 6 p.m. Friday. Thurmont ousted Frederick American. 6pm in four innings Wednesday. National hosts Thurmont at Robert B. Staley Stadium. Since the series began more than 50 years ago, National and Brunswick have met on a fairly-regular basis, each winning its share of games. Many of those games were district title tilts.. It's no wonder at least one member of Brunswick's team and its manager expect a rematch with National Friday at
Brunswick. "From what I've seen, so far in the district. I would be surprised if we didn't see National again," Brunswick manager Mark Tarleton said. "Believe me, in the time I've been involved in Brunswick Little League. National's gotten the best of us. Last year, we got them. Hopefully, we'll do it again this year." Rindone, who's three-run blast over the fence in straightaway center field gave Brunswick a 7-0 lead, has the same strong feeling. "It's going to be pretty tough, just like tonight," he said. "We have to hit the ball well and have some good defense." National manager Brooks Ahalt is a little more cautious on his outlook, knowing his team must first get past Thurmont in today's game. "We have to win tomorrow night," he said. "If we win that one, we will play for the championship Friday night." Brunswick struggled at the plate at the start, but began to figure out the pitching of National's Tommy Phelps as the game progressed. Walls hit a leadoff homer high over the fence in right field, giving Brunswick a 1-0 lead. Brunswick added another run in the second on a bases-loaded walk. Brunswick scored twice in the third. Rindone's three-run shot in the fourth put Brunswick in control. "Early on, we talked about not swinging at the curveball," Tarleton said. "We knew he (Phelps) had a good deuce. Of course, we go right out there and swing at curveballs that are off the plate and in the dirt. We had to re-focus after that first inning. We were more disciplined at the plate after that." Wanger singled in a pair of runs in the fifth. For the game, Tom McCarthy and Wanger each had two hits. Rindone got the win, throwing four innings of one-hit baseball with five strikeouts. Wanger pitched in the fifth. Babyak was the closer in the sixth. "Joey said he was getting a little gassed," Tarleton said. "We took Wanger out after the fifth so we could have him available for Friday." "Overall,I think we played a good game of baseball," Ahalt said. "Their balls (got through). Ours didn't. We hit the ball pretty well, but they were line drives right at people. It took us out of some inning on double plays," National's lone run came on a leadoff homer by Myles Mensah in the fourth. "We made every defensive play hit at us," Ahalt said "They got the hits, we didn't."
July 16, 2010
Thurmont wins again in 11-12 district II tourney
Thurmont's Little League 11-12 team matured a lot in the last five days. Since losing to Four County Saturday in the opening round of the District 2 Tournament, the northern county team fought its way back through the losers' bracket of the double-elimination tournament. Playing near-flawless baseball, Thurmont avenged its loss to Four County with a win Wednesday and earned a berth in today's championship game, defeating Frederick National, 12-4, in Thursday's losers' bracket final at National's Robert B. Staley Stadium. "We didn't hit the ball in the first game with Four County," Thurmont third baseman Owen Tokar said. "All we had to do was hit the ball and play good defense." Thurmont did both. Tokar helped his team's cause with two hits and four RBIs. He belted a two-out, two-run home run over the wall in straight-away center field in the last of the second inning, giving his team a 6-1 lead. "They practiced like they played today," Thurmont manager Phil Tylicki said. "That first game, that wasn't the same team. I don't know if it was me talking to them or them figuring out: 'Hey, we're in the losers' bracket. We have nothing to lose. Let's come out and have some baseball. Have some fun." Thursday's win means Thurmont faces another traditional District 2 power in Brunswick at 6 p.m. at undefeated Brunswick. A Brunswick win gives it the district crown outright. A Thurmont win forces an extra game at Thurmont's Leisner Field Saturday to determine a champion. "We haven't beaten Brunswick in forever," Tokar said. "I'm excited to play them. I hope we win." In the opposite dugout, Frederick National players, one by one, filed out. Each player shook hands with manager Brooks Ahalt and his staff, getting well wishes for the rest of the summer. National's hopes of a rematch with Brunswick, and another shot at a district crown, are put on hold for at least another year. "They played a nice game," Ahalt said. "They put the ball in play." Michael Tokar got the win for Thurmont, allowing one earned run through 4 2-3 innings. His cutter pitch worked well against most of National's lineup. "It moves sort of 'like a curveball," Tylicki said. "They just didn't hit it the whole time, so I just kept throwing it." Thurmont never trailed in Thursday's game. It scored four runs in the first and added two runs in the second and third. Thurmont got four more runs in the fifth.
2010 - Brunswick Railroaders
District 2 Champions
Brunswick Railroaders
Tournament Results:
District Round: Brooks Ahalt
Frederick National vs Four County won 11-1
Frederick National vs Brunswick lost 9-1
Frederick National vs Thurmont lost 12-4
Articles and information displayed and included on these pages are from the Frederick Little League, Inc; Frederick National Little League, Inc; Frederick Post; Frederick Evening Post; Frederick News, The Frederick News Post; The Herald Mail and Morning Herald. Special note should be given to articles and columns authored by "Bucky" Summers, Stan Golderg & Bill Cauley covering Frederick area Little Leagues for many years.