No. 4 Allegany's fast start leads to 8-3 win at Fort Hill

CUMBERLAND — No. 4 Allegany’s offense got off to a fast start on Friday, finishing with 12 hits and scoring a run in five of seven innings in an 8-3 win over Fort Hill at Washington Middle.

“We did the job, Kohen (Madden) was solid on the mound,” Allegany manager Jon Irons said. “He really does a lot for us when he goes out and pitches that well. If we play a little better defense behind him, he probably finishes that game on his own.”

The Campers (10-6, 5-2 Western Maryland Athletic Conference) opened the scoring in the top of the first on Liam Buck’s double to left center.

Cole Ricker singled and Buck hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth.

“We shook some things up lineup-wise,” Irons said. “We feel like we’ve been all-around scoring runs, we just haven’t gotten productive at-bats when we needed them. So we shook things up a little bit, I think the kids kinda liked that.”

Madden and Eston Powell doubled while Sebastian Stewart singled in the fifth.

Madden went 3 for 4 with a walk while Stewart was 2 for 4 with a walk and stolen base.

“Their offense was definitely rolling,” Fort Hill skipper Tanner Brode said. “Ours was not, until that last inning there. Got a couple guys on early, but left them stranded. Then that seventh inning, little too late trying to make something happen.”

Powell added an RBI knock in the sixth and finished 4 for 4 with two RBIs and two doubles.

“It’s great to have a freshman in the nine-hole go 4 for 4 in a city game like this,” Irons said. “He was seeing it well, he had a good approach at the plate. Then he got some confidence and just kept rolling. That’s phenomenal to see, that’s what we need all the way through our order.”

A balk in the second scored Allegany’s other run.

The Sentinels (9-8-1, 4-4 WestMAC) got on the board in the bottom of the fifth on a passed ball.

Coye Resh and Carson Bender worked back-to-back bases loaded walks in the seventh to conclude the scoring.

Fort Hill left eight runners on, which included leaving the bases loaded in the seventh and two on in the sixth.

“I think some of our approach at the plate,” Brode said. “I think that might’ve been off a little bit. I think Kohen switched things up with his sequence. Our guys had something in mind with their approach and it didn’t line up with what they were thinking.”

Madden struck out eight in 6 2/3 innings, allowing four hits and two walks with three unearned runs.

He finished 3 for 4 with a double and drove in a run.

“I thought his velocity was good today,” Irons said. “He attacked, for the most part when he needed to attack. His off-speed stuff looked good, so he’s getting into playoff form here.”

Resh, Bender, Liam Hamilton and Jake Rice each had a hit for the Sentinels.

Fort Hill’s Colt Resh was charged with four earned runs across 4 2/3 innings.