Unfortunately for Northern Bedford and coach Ryan Cherry, taking those chances did not lead to an upset of defending PIAA Class 1A baseball champion Southern Fulton in Thursday’s District 5 championship game at McConnellsburg High School.

The Indians scored three runs in the first inning off Northern Bedford starting pitcher Ty Kagarise and then threw out a runner at home and another trying to steal second base in the top of the sixth inning in a 4-1 victory.

“It totally set the tone,” Southern Fulton coach Kent Hendershot said. “Credit to Northern Bedford. They have really improved throughout the year. They are young and have a very bright future ahead of them. We knew it was going to be a dogfight. To come out in that first inning and set that tone, I think it really springboarded us.”

Cherry was hoping to get a couple innings out of Kagarise and then switch to a harder-throwing Trace Baker. But Colt Mann led off the bottom of the first inning with a walk, and after an out, Austin Mann, Brooks Norris and Kaden Saunders had back-to-back-to-back singles that led to the 3-0 deficit.

Northern Bedford’s Nevin Lloyd (11) is greeted by teammate Trace Baker (1) after scoring Thursday. Mirror photo by Michael Boytim

Baker came on in relief to start the bottom of the second inning and allowed just one unearned run, struck out eight and gave up just one hit the rest of the game.

“We thought if we went with someone early then we could bring him in and it would be a change of speeds,” Cherry said. “They got a couple runs on us in the first inning. We didn’t respond real well. Kudos to their pitcher (Saunders), he struck out (nine). We didn’t hit the ball and give (Baker) any support either. It’s a tough loss. Trace is going to be pretty good the next couple of years only being a sophomore.”

Kolson Feathers, who had two of Northern Bedford’s four hits, drove home Nevin Lloyd with an RBI single in the top of the third inning before Saunders got out of the inning on a double play.

Southern Fulton added a run in the bottom of the fifth inning when Paul Hendershot drew a walk, stole second and went to third on a passed ball and scored on a sacrifice fly by Norris.

“Our experience is huge,” Coach Hendershot said. “Our guys wait to get to this part of the season. We can be a little lackadaisical in the regular season trying to get to the playoffs, but now they amp it up. It’s a team full of experience with six seniors and kids who have played here forever. They don’t get nervous. They don’t get tense, and they make plays like they did today.”

But in the top of the sixth, Baker reached on the game’s only error and Feathers singled to bring the tying run to the plate with no outs.

Jordan Free laced a single to center, but Baker was thrown out on a close play at home. With runners at first and third, Free was thrown out trying to steal second, and Saunders got a strikeout to end the inning.

“We preach defense,” Coach Hendershot said. “We pride ourselves on making plays like that. Those two big plays saved us two runs today. It could have easily been a 4-3 game. It was huge, because if they score those runs, that gives them the momentum and it’s a totally different game.”

Owen Oakman came on in relief of Saunders in the seventh inning and struck out the side to get the save.

Northern Bedford finished 12-10 and will graduate two seniors — Carter Watson and Nolin Snider.

“We showed what we’re capable of this season,” Snider said. “We have a young team, and hopefully they can come back next year and do even more. I’ll always remember winning districts my sophomore year in football. Just being able to compete with these guys in all the sports has been a blessing.”

Snider hit .323 for the Black Panthers this season, and Watson drove in 16 runs.

“Carter and Nolin have been around for a couple years,” Cherry said. “Carter has come a long way since his sophomore year, and Nolin came on this year as a designated hitter and did really well for us. I’ll miss them both. Their leadership in the dugout was always tremendous. They always kept the team up.

Southern Fulton will host District 6 runner-up Homer-Center in the first round of the PIAA playoffs on Monday. Northern Bedford will turn its attention to an important offseason with big goals.

“We’re young moving forward,” Cherry said. “We plan on being here in this spot the next couple years. We can learn from this, move on and go from there.”

NORTHERN BEDFORD (1): Feathers cf 302, Free ss 301, Kagarise p-2b 200, Watson 1b 300, Weitzel c 000, Snider dh 300, Bowers lf 300, Swanseen 3b 200, Lloyd 2b 211, Baker rf 200. Totals — 23-1-4.

SOUTHERN FULTON (4): C. Mann cf 210, P. Hendershot 1b 210, A. Mann c 101, Shipley cr 010, Norris ss 212, Saunders p-3b 301, Weicht cr 000, Oakman 3b-p 200, L. Hendershot dh 200, Cain lf 100, Dressel 2b 300. Totals — 18-4-4.

SCORE BY INNINGS

Northern Bedford 001 000 0–1 4 0

Southern Fulton 300 010 X–4 4 1

E–Norris. RBI–Feathers, A. Mann, Norris, Saunders, L. Hendershot.

PITCHING

Northern Bedford: Kagarise (L) — 1IP, 3H, 0K, 2BB, 3R, 3ER, 31 pitches; Baker — 5IP, 1H, 8K, 4BB, 1HBP, 1R, 0ER, 94 pitches.

Southern Fulton: Saunders (W) — 6IP, 4H, 9K, 1BB, 1R, 1ER, 86 pitches; Oakman (S) — 1IP, 3K, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 10 pitches.

Records: Northern Bedford (12-10); Southern Fulton (19-2).

Umpires: Ted Oppegard Jr. (HP); J. Roswell Shinew; Raymond Rowley; Kyle Cornell.