HANOVER, Md. — Funkstown Post 211 captured its 11th Maryland American Legion baseball state championship, and its first since 2019, with a 2-1 victory over Fort Cumberland Post 13 at Joe Cannon Stadium on Tuesday, July 28.
Funkstown (26-7), which won the Western Maryland District championship to qualify for the state tournament, went undefeated (5-0) in claiming the state title. The Skunks outscored their opponents, 49-16.
“We’ve been pounding the ball all season, one through nine,” said Funkstown manager Bobby Keller. “It didn’t matter who I put in the lineup, they would all produce. They bought into everything we taught and we do at Funkstown, and it worked out. We got all the breaks this year.”
Funkstown will next compete in the Mid-Atlantic Regional at Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, beginning Aug. 5. The regional champion qualifies for the American Legion World Series.
“They’re pretty confident,” Keller said. “I told their parents they were a special group. We’ll see what happens. I think we can make a run.”
While Funkstown averaged 11.8 runs per game in its first four tournament games, Tuesday’s championship game was a pitcher’s duel. Shawn Higgins earned the win for the Skunks, allowing one run on six hits and three walks over 6 2/3 innings.
“He was lights out. That’s why we give him the baseball,” said Keller. “Every time we put him on the mound this season, he shows there’s a reason he was the Washington County (high school) pitcher of the year. He pounds the zone, mixes his pitches and is a great competitor.”
Heath Githens induced a grounder for the final out.
Funkstown took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on Cameron Face’s single, walks to Hayden Hose and Grant Semler and George Mantz’s RBI groundout.
Fort Cumberland tied it at 1 in the top of the fourth inning on singles by Kohen Madden, Dane Van Slyke and Coye Resh.
The Skunks took a 2-1 lead in the bottom half. Mantz walked, Gavin Ramarge singled and Derek Kline drove home Mantz with an RBI single.
Funkstown opened the state tournament with a 14-1 win over the Severn Patriots (Post 276) in five innings. Mantz doubled and drove in three runs. Semler went 2-for-2 with a double, a walk and two RBIs. Ramarge had two hits, including a double, and two RBIs. Ryan Darr had a hit, a walk and three RBIs. Jared Dangerfield homered. Gavin Blumenauer earned the complete-game victory, allowing one run on five hits while striking out six.
The Skunks next defeated the Naptown Tides (Annapolis Post 7), 14-8. Kline had two hits and four RBIs. Face had two hits, including a triple, two walks and two RBIs. Mantz went 2-for-2 with two walks. Mason Oates and Ryan Darr each had a hit and two RBIs. Semler had a two, two walks and an RBI. Githens closed out the win with two shutout innings in relief.
Funkstown rolled past Sharptown Post 218, 13-2, to clinch a spot in the championship round. Ramarge doubled, homered, walked and drove in six runs. Semler had three hits, including a double, a walk and two RBIs. Kline had three hits, including a double, a walk, an RBI and three runs scored. Mantz had two hits and scored three runs. Dangerfield homered. Hose went the distance for the win, allowing two runs on nine hits and two walks.
The Skunks stayed perfect with a 6-4 win over La Plata Post 82. Dangerfield had two hits, including a double, and scored twice. Ramarge had two hits, including a double. Semler pitched three shutout innings, allowing one hit and two walks while striking out five. Oates pitched the final 3 2/3 shutout innings, allowing three hits and two walks.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Funkstown finishes perfect run to Maryland Legion baseball championship
