Thurmont Little League wins state title

Edison Hatter

(8/2) The Thurmont Little League team has done it; they brought home the state title! This is the second year in a row that a Thurmont Little League team has made it to the state tournament since 2011, and this year they’ve proudly secured the title of state champions. After some stumbles last year at states, the team practiced and played hard this year to make a better run at the state title. Their hard work paid off as they dominated their way through the district round, winning four games in a row and made it to the state tournament.

In their first game at the state tournament against Elkton, Thurmont came out strong, going up 1-0 early on in a leadoff homerun from Logan Simanski and adding three more in the second to take a 4-0 lead. A pair of two-run shots from Will Gisriel and Connor Crum in the third highlighted a six-run inning that put Thurmont on top 10-0. Elkton finally got on the board with a run in the fourth, but Gisriel hit a second homerun in the bottom of the inning to give Thurmont the 11-1 mercy rule win.

Thurmont’s second game in the state tournament was a dominating 17-0 win over Easton. Thurmont scored three in the second, eleven in the third, and three more in the fourth in the mercy-rule shortened game.

Next, Thurmont took on Berlin for a trip to the state title game. Thurmont quickly took a 1-0 lead, getting two singles and two walks. They were able to scratch one more run in the top of the first, giving them a 2-0 edge. Berlin rallied in the bottom of the fifth to put runners on the corners with only one out, but Simanski induced a lineout and a groundout to keep the score right where it was. The bottom half of the sixth inning started with a Berlin solo shot to make the score 3-2. Simanski quickly forced a flyout, but an error brought the winning run to the plate. A final play by Skowronski sent Thurmont to the state title game for the first time since 2006.

Thurmont’s final challenge at the state tournament came once more from Berlin. After Berlin fought their way through the losers’ bracket, they earned the right to face Thurmont with a state title on the line. Thurmont wasted no time at all in the game, jumping to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Skowronski was called on to start the game on the mound for Thurmont and he quickly retired Berlin in the first, despite a walk. Thurmont blew the game wide open in the top of the second, picking up seven runs on four singles, three walks, two errors, and a double. Berlin came close in the bottom of the third with a three-run homerun and even closer with a two-run double in the bottom of the fourth. However, Thurmont’s pitching sealed the deal, as McMannis got the final seven outs and Thurmont won the game and the state title, 11-5.

This is the first time Thurmont has won the state title since 2005 and they will advance to play in the Mid-Atlantic Regional tournament beginning on August 6. The community of Thurmont is incredibly proud of the Little Leaguers and all the hard work they have already put into their season. Best of luck to them as they continue to fight for the Regional title!