HANOVER — Fort Cumberland has had to find a new winning formula every game, but one way or another, it gets there.
The latest strange solution didn’t present itself until the sixth inning Sunday with Post 13 trailing Cecil County, 2-0, with the bases loaded and two outs.
Cecil reliever Chris Harris appeared to get out of the jam with a strikeout on an off-speed delivery in the dirt, but the ball bounced away from the catcher and Fort Cumberland scored its first run on a dropped-third strike.
With new life, late-game defensive replacement Logan VanMeter shot a hard ground ball into left field one batter later to give Fort Cumberland the lead.
Steven Spencer retired Cecil County Post 15 in order in the seventh to finish off his complete game, and Fort Cumberland notched a 3-2 comeback victory to secure a spot in the championship game at the Maryland American Legion state tournament at Joe Cannon Stadium.
“We played extremely flat,” Fort Cumberland manager Brian McAlpine said. “Mid game, threw Logan and Josef (Sneathen) in there. Usually one of them will come through with a big hit, and it happened. Logan came through again.”
Fort Cumberland (19-6) recorded its third straight one-run win at the state tournament. Post 13 defeated St. Mary’s, 1-0, and Boonsboro, 7-6, in its first two contests.
Post 13 will take on Old Mill Post 276 on Monday at 1 p.m.
As the lone 3-0 team remaining, Fort Cumberland is ensured a spot in Tuesday’s state championship game.
If it beats Old Mill, then it’ll need to be beaten twice on Tuesday.
Fort Cumberland’s sixth-inning rally Sunday was set up by consecutive walks drawn by Carson Bradley and Myles Bascelli and a third issued to Caedon Wallace with two outs.
VanMeter tallied the winning hit for the second time in three games, as he garnered a walk-off sacrifice fly in the 11th inning against St. Mary’s on Friday.
Like that game, VanMeter started the game on the bench. He was tasked with providing a spark after entering in the fifth inning on Sunday.
“Got a pretty good pitch to swing on,” VanMeter said. “Lefty came in and he was throwing pretty good. Couple guys faced him and they took me to the side and told me what was coming.
“Swung at a fastball, inside of the plate, and I took it that way into the gap and just watched my guys run around. It was great.”
The job wasn’t done, however, as Cecil still had one more at-bat.
Spencer retired the side in order, with the final out fittingly coming by way of a groundout to shortstop Bryce Madden, whose glovework in the middle innings along with Spencer’s pitching kept Post 13 in the game.
The right-hander gave up two runs on five hits with four strikeouts and four walks in seven innings to earn the victory.
Spencer expended 47 pitches through the first three frames but quick six-pitch innings in the fourth and fifth allowed him to go the distance. He finished with 88 deliveries.
“(My catcher) Carson was talking to me before the game, and he said to work fastball until they hit it,” Spencer said. “They put some timely hits together, but the defense was behind me and put their trust in me. I just did my best to go out and perform.”
That defense played its second error-free game in as many days, and key 6-4-3 double plays turned by Bryce and Kohen Madden in the second and fourth innings proved vital.
The twin killing in the fourth frame was the game’s defensive highlight, as Bryce Madden slid into the gap to backhand a grounder off the bat of Kyle Hyre and made a strong throw from a knee to Kohen Madden at second.
The younger Madden made a quick turn to first to get the inning’s final out.
Fort Cumberland also cut down a base-runner with relay throws from the outfield for the third game in a row.
Sunday’s edition came after a two-out double by Langston Belser scored a run in the sixth, but a second score was prevented after Bryce Madden’s throw to catcher Josef Sneathen at the plate.
The sequence kept the deficit at 2-0 and allowed for a comeback in the next half-inning.
Fort Cumberland finished with just four base hits, partially because of Cecil’s outfield, which played a solid game in its own right.
Center fielder Nate Fleming robbed Bryce Madden of a single with a sliding catch in the fifth, and Belser took a hit away from Kohen Madden with a skidding grab in the second.
Bradley singled twice for half of Post 13’s base hits.
Cecil catcher Ethan Flaugher, a Division 1 Mount St. Mary’s commit, doubled twice, and Belser had two hits.
Right-hander Travis Loewe was tabbed with a no decision for Cecil despite starting the game with five shutout frames. He lasted 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on three hits with five Ks and two walks.
Harris took the loss, surrendering a run in 2/3 of an inning.
Fort Cumberland will try to notch a fourth straight victory Monday against Old Mill, its next task in a quest to repeat as state champion.
It hasn’t been pretty, but one way or another, Fort Cumberland continues to find a way to come out on top.
“It’s just a bunch of dogs,” Spencer said. “Never count us out.”
Md. State Tournament, At a Glance
All games at Joe Cannon Stadium in Hanover
Friday's Games
Game 1 — Boonsboro 9, Caroline 0
Game 2 — Ocean City 4, Old Mill 0
Game 3 — Fort Cumberland 1, St. Mary's 0
Game 4 — Cecil County 7, Severna Park 5
Saturday's Games
Game 5 — St. Mary's 22, Caroline 0(Caroline eliminated)
Game 6 — Old Mill 7, Severna Park 5(Severna Park eliminated)
Game 7 — Fort Cumberland 7, Boonsboro 6
Game 8 — Cecil County 3, Ocean City 2
Sunday's Games
Game 9 — Old Mill 3, St. Mary's 1(St. Mary's eliminated)
Game 10 — Boonsboro 8, Ocean City 7
Game 11 — Fort Cumberland 3, Cecil County 2
Monday's Games
Game 12 — Boonsboro Post 10 (22-5) vs. Cecil County Post 15, 10 a.m.
Game 13 — Fort Cumberland Post 13 (19-6) vs. Old Mill Post 276, 1:00
Note: As the lone undefeated team remaining, Fort Cumberland is ensured a spot in Tuesday's state championship game.
Tuesday's Games
Game 14 — Game 12 winner vs. Game 13 winner, TBA
Game 15 — If needed, 30 minutes after the completion of Game 14
Note: If three teams remain on Tuesday, the winner of Game 11 automatically draws the bye in Game 14.
Alex Rychwalski is a sports reporter at the Cumberland Times-News. Follow him on Twitter @arychwal.
