An opening-round loss Tuesday in the Montgomery County American Legion playoffs complicated the task for Damascus Post 171. Five days later, Damascus faced the ultimate complication — Gaithersburg Post 104 pitcher Kevin Brady.
Beating the 6-foot-3 right-hander, a senior this fall at Gaithersburg High, is a monumental task. Sunday at Damascus Regional Park, Damascus had about as much success as most, generating just two hits in a 9-1 loss in the county title game.
Brady walked one and fanned 14 — including three in a dominating seventh inning — as Gaithersburg earned a berth in the state tournament, July 27-Aug. 1, at Thomas Stone in Waldorf.
“He hides his ball very well. And he throws 90 miles an hour,” said Damascus first baseman Brian Moran (Sherwood/Villa Julie). “By the time the ball comes out of his hand, it’s already in the catcher’s glove. You just don’t see it.”
After walking Shane Boyd (Damascus High) to open the game, Brady fanned seven of the next nine batters. The lone run for Damascus (22-17) came in the fourth when shortstop Tommy Gilchrist singled, stole second and scored on a single by third baseman Alejandro Acevedo (Sherwood).
“I didn’t have my full rest. My fastball wasn’t as fast as usual,” said Brady, who was clocked at 92 mph last month. “But once I got loose, I started hitting my spots.”
Brady was working on four days’ rest after shutting out four-time defending county champion Gaithersburg Post 295 on three hits in a 1-0 victory Tuesday. Two days later, Bobby Kim (Wootton/James Madison) shut out regular-season champion Laurel on two hits in a 3-0 victory.
“I was disappointed Kevin gave up a run today,” joked Gaithersburg coach Joe Stolz. “I said before the playoffs that if Bobby Kim and Kevin Brady are on, we win. When they’re pitching, we only need to score a couple of runs.”
Gaithersburg (20-11) did more than needed Sunday, scoring in five of six innings. Catcher Ricky Phillips (Gaithersburg/UMBC) drove in the opening run with a hard grounder back through the box off losing pitcher Kevin Story (Damascus).
Matt Miller (Magruder) keyed a four-run second with a two-run double, then scored on a single by Alex Bastow (Wootton). Outfielder Anthony Howard (Quince Orchard) went 2-for-2 and scored twice. And Brady, who bats left-handed, aided his cause with a double, as if he needed it.
“He’s tougher than any college pitcher I faced this year,” said Moran. “I faced a lot of tough guys. Kevin’s up there, way up there.”
SOME CONSOLATION
» Damascus can advance to the state tournament with a play-in victory today over the Garrett County champion. Game time is 4 p.m. at Mount Airy Legion Hall.
» Greenbelt Post 136, made up largely of players from DeMatha, has qualified for the state tourney.
» Cecil County is the defending state champion.
