Duff Deals a Gem as Cougars Blank Allegany 8-0 to Advance to Region 20 Championship Final

Frederick Community College baseball delivered a commanding performance on its home field Friday afternoon, shutting out Allegany College of Maryland 8-0 in Game 4 of the 2026 NJCAA Division II Region 20 Baseball Championship Tournament. Backed by a dominant complete-game effort from Ethan Duff and a late offensive explosion the Cougars move one win away from a trip to the national stage in Enid, Oklahoma.

Duff was in complete control from the first pitch, scattering just one hit across seven innings while striking out six and throwing an efficient 66 pitches. The right-hander never allowed Allegany to find any rhythm at the plate, retiring hitters consistently and benefiting from solid defensive support, including a key double play turned by Luis Perez Alfaro, Clayton Dorsey, and Jack Clarke. Duff's outing marked one of Frederick's most complete performances on the mound this season and improved his record to 8-1.

Frederick broke through early in the second inning when Braydon Kelman ignited the offense with a two-run home run to center field, giving the Cougars a 2-0 advantage. Clayton Dorsey, who had doubled earlier in the inning, crossed the plate on the blast. 

The game remained tight until the seventh inning when Frederick's offense erupted with Casey Westerberg and Kelman sparked the rally, and Jack Clarke delivered an RBI single to extend the lead. Moments later, Cole Swinimer drove a double down the left field line, bringing home two more runs to make it 5-0. With momentum fully shifted, Andrew Varga delivered the knockout blow—launching a three-run home run to cap the six-run inning and put the game out of reach at 8-0.

Frederick finished with 10 hits, as multiple players fueled the offensive surge. Swinimer led the way with two hits and two RBIs, while Varga's three-run homer highlighted his three-RBI day. Kelman added a home run and two RBIs, and Clarke chipped in with two hits and an RBI as the Cougars showcased their depth throughout the lineup.

The victory moves Frederick further along in the Region 20 bracket and sets up a championship matchup against #4 Garrett College in Game 6 on Saturday, May 16 at 12:00 PM in Frederick. Garrett advanced to the final by defeating Allegany 4-3. Because of the double-elimination format, the Cougars hold an advantage—Garrett must defeat Frederick twice to claim the regional title, while Frederick needs just one win to secure the championship.

With the win, Frederick now sits one victory away from advancing to the 2026 NJCAA Division II World Series, scheduled for May 23–30 at David Allen Memorial Ballpark in Enid, Oklahoma.