HAGERSTOWN —
Federal came out hitting Saturday afternoon, racking up 12 hits in a 13-2 five-inning victory over Hancock in a Maryland District 1 9-10 Tournament winners’ bracket quarterfinal highlighted by a six-run second inning.Federal will host the Conococheague/Sharpsburg winner on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the winners’ bracket semifinals. Hancock will travel to National for a losers’ bracket game Monday at 6 p.m.
Federal built an 8-0 lead after the second inning and got great pitching throughout to keep Hancock at bay.
”It’s always easier to play these Little League games with a lead,” Federal manager Tim Kolb said. “We were able to add on some runs and we have a deep lineup that can explode at any time.”
Ian Selby started for Federal and went 2 1/3 innings, giving up two runs on four hits and striking out two.
He was even better at the plate, finishing the day 3-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs.
Federal took a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning when Ben Caldwell drove in a run with a double and scored on Selby’s first double.
Dylan Watson and Jay Williams singled in the second, and both scored on Kyle Corley’s double for a 4-0 Federal lead. Corley scored on a fielder’s choice before Brayden Quirple mashed a two-run homer over the fence in center to make it 7-0. Selby’s second RBI double made it 8-0.
“Our lineup is built like a typical one. The middle of our lineup can explode at any time and everyone does their job,” Kolb said.
Hancock got its only two runs in the third inning. Gabe Stotler picked up an RBI with a sacrifice fly, and Brady Day’s RBI single closed the gap a little more, but Hancock still trailed 9-2 after the third.
“We were slow at the start,” Hancock manager Wes Zirkle said. “But we held our own and tried to come back. We tried to bring things to life and didn’t give up. I’m proud of them.”
Federal added to its lead in the fourth on a wild pitch and Corley’s sacrifice fly for an 11-2 advantage.
Watson drove in the game-ending runs for Federal in the fifth with a two-out, two-run double.
