Published: July 26, 2009 12:02 am      

Post 13 knocked out of Maryland Legion tourney

COLLEGE PARK — The first-round pairings didn’t do Fort Cumberland Post 13 any favors.

The second-round matchup wasn’t the best of deals, either, for the Mountain District American Legion baseball champions.

Fort Cumberland, which finally wrestled the district championship from Garrett County for a spot in the state tournament, lost 34-3 to Frederick in Friday’s first round, then was beaten by Gaithersburg Post 104 30-15 in an elimination game on Saturday at the University of Maryland.

Frederick was the state runnerup last year and a favorite to win the state title this year. Gaithersburg Post 104 is the defending state champion.

In Saturday’s game, Gaithersburg led 13-0 after 3 1/2 innings but Fort Cumberland roared back with a seven-run fourth and a six-run fifth.

The game, which produced 45 runs, 34 hits and 13 errors, was still within striking for Fort Cumberland at 20-15 after eight innings, but Gaithersburg scored 10 runs in the top of the ninth.

Sean Collette and Jeff Conley hit a double and two singles to lead Cumberland’s 14-hit attack. Cody Ellsworth tripled, Zac Hare doubled and singled and Shane Malloy singled twice.

Fort Cumberland finished the season with an overall record of 17-13-1.