MCHENRY — Garrett County didn’t make it easy for Fort Cumberland, once again one out from the district title. This time, Post 13 finished the job.
Facing a bases-loaded, two-out jam and clinging to a 2-0 lead, Myles Bascelli was summoned from center field to finish off a Kohen Madden masterpiece that got Fort Cumberland to the precipice.
Madden, who was at just 68 pitches through five innings, was pushed to the pitch limit by a pesky Garrett County side, his final delivery a hit-by-pitch that put the winning run at first base and summoned a reliever.
With the count full, however, Bascelli jammed Landon Yoder, and his soft line drive — appearing destined off the bat for the outfield — fell into Madden’s glove at shortstop to send Fort Cumberland Post 13 to a 2-0 victory and deliver the Mountain District championship on Tuesday at Garrett College.
“It was a battle,” Fort Cumberland manager Brian McAlpine said. “Two of the best pitchers in the area. Kohen dealt pretty well. He was bringing it all night. I’d like to have seen him end it, but I had Myles waiting.
“When you play defense and pitch like we did, all you need is a couple runs.”
The win was the sixth for Fort Cumberland (9-5) in eight district games, clinching the title in the best-of-10 summer series against Garrett County.
Garrett County (6-11) was in a similar situation on Thursday, again facing elimination, but Elliott Myers-Shirer found the tying two-out hit to force extra innings in a game Post 71/208/214 went on to win 5-4 in eight frames.
Bascelli made sure it ended in the seventh Tuesday, painting the inside corner to finish off a lighting-fast one-hour and 39-minute duel.
Madden was nearly untouchable across 6 2/3 masterful innings, allowing just three hits, striking out six and walking three in a 106-pitch performance.
“I knew I had to be efficient, work ahead, stay ahead throughout the whole game, and my defense will back me up,” Madden said.
Fort Cumberland scored both of its runs in the fourth inning, the first on a sacrifice fly by Coye Resh and the second on a two-out RBI knock to right field by Jake Rice.
Resh also made the biggest play of the day in the field, helping Madden escape a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the fourth by stepping on third base and firing a strong throw to first for a clutch double play.
“It was a good ballgame,” Garrett skipper Phil Carr said. “Two good pitchers, two of our better pitchers in the area went at it today. We had opportunities, a couple double plays we hit into. We fought to the very end.”
Garrett right-hander Landon Yoder was nearly as good as Madden. Both of his runs were unearned, as Post 13’s fourth-inning rally began with an E5, and he took the loss despite surrendering just five hits, striking out three and walking none in a seven-inning gem.
Bascelli doubled, Madden scored and stole two bases, and Colt Resh scored Fort Cumberland’s other run.
All three Garrett County hits were singles.
Garrett catcher Reece Tasker helped keep traffic off the bases by nullifying a lead-off single by Coye Resh in the second inning with a caught stealing.
The two sides will square off again at Memorial Field on Wednesday at 5 p.m. in a meaningless game as far as the district championship is concerned.
Fort Cumberland will play a one-game playoff game for a berth in the state tournament, reportedly at the Hammer Complex in Cumberland, on Sunday at a time and against an opponent to be determined.
After a year off, Cumberland, which won back-to-back state titles under McAlpine in 2023-24, is a win shy of getting back to Joe Cannon Stadium.
“Big difference from last year, the growth of this team from last year to this year,” McAlpine said. “Their whole mentality, physical appearance, everything is. You can tell they’re a year older, a year stronger, a year smarter.”