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Frederick senior Jimmy Lanning strokes a 2-RBI single after crushing a foul homer.
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By Ryan Mink
rmink@digitalsports.com

Frederick senior Jimmy Lanning never comes to the ballpark worried about not getting enough hitting.

Entering Friday’s 3A baseball region final, Frederick had scored 10 or more runs in 11 games and played a shortened five-inning game in six of those games.

Add one more to each list.

Frederick broke out the bats in a big way Friday afternoon, beating Paint Branch 15-2 for the 3A West crown.

“We’ve always been able to hit the ball,” said Lanning, who expects to get at least five runs every game.

Frederick (18-3) advances to the 3A state semifinals where it will face Towson (11-6). The Cadets fell to Bethesda-Chevy Chase in their first playoff game last year. They avenged that, 10-0, Wednesday.

“We wanted redemption,” Lanning said. “We wanted to win the region this year since we got knocked out so early last year. Today the momentum carried over and we just kept hitting.”

The Cadets pounded out 12 hits total. Lanning went 2-for-4 and drove in a pair of runs in an eight-run fourth inning that sealed Paint Branch’s fate.

Lanning, who also tossed a complete game for his seventh win of the season, thought he hit a home run to right field but the blast was called foul. He then stepped back into the box and lined a single to right field.

Paint Branch, who had its 10-game win streak halted, took the game’s first lead in the top of the first on an RBI double by Mike Noyes. But Frederick answered right back, clubbing three Panthers pitchers in just four innings.

“We couldn’t keep them off balance,” Paint Branch Coach Tommy Rey said. “We got down in the count and had to give them all fastballs and they’re a very good hitting team, a very good hitting team.”

Cadets senior Josh Jackson got the hitting parade started with a bases loaded single that drove in two runs. Erich Hayes followed with an RBI double and Brady Wilson also brought home a run. Senior Andrew Zimnick capped a seven-run second inning with an RBI double.

“All we need is a spark,” Jackson said. “Once we have a spark we put runs up on the board. … We just pound the ball.”

Frederick has been led by its 10 seniors, seven of which are returning starters. Much of the group has been playing together since Little League.

The group is looser this year and the way it hits certainly doesn’t hurt. Lanning said he expected last year’s team to contend for the state title and this year he expects to win it.

“This group is a special group,” Frederick Coach Phil Rhodes said. “They have that potential. We have two more games to figure out if we can meet that potential.”