KEYSER, W.Va. - The No. 1 Harford baseball team (44-11) advanced in the 2011 Region XX Baseball Tournament on Saturday with a 9-1 victory over Anne Arundel in eight innings. The Fighting Owls then played No. 2 Potomac State in the winner's bracket in a contest that was halted due to darkness. Harford trails 14-11 in the top of the ninth inning.

Harford 9, Anne Arundel 1 (8)
Corey Taylor held the Pioneers at bay in his sixth complete game of the season in Harford's opening contest of the tournament. The sophomore lefthander scattered five hits and was never in trouble to improve to 9-2 on the season.

The Harford offense struck early and often against Anne Arundel. For the fourth-straight contest, the Fighting Owls put a crooked number on the scoreboard in the first inning, when Christian Wolfe plated a pair with a two-out double.

Harford advanced its lead to 3-0 in the second when Jonathan Castro scored on an Alex Riley bunt and a throwing error by the Pioneer pitcher.

Taylor dominated on the mound as the score remained 3-0 until the seven, when Taylor's battery mate busted the game wide open. Nick Octavi stroked a two-run, bases-loaded single making the score 6-0.

Taylor's only hiccup came with two outs in the top of the 8th when he allowed a solo home run to make the score 7-1. Anthony Ortiz ended the game on the run-rule with a two-run double in the bottom of the eighth.

Wolfe finsihed with two doubles, while Riley and Castro each added a pair of hits. James Wilson extended his team-high hit streak to 21 games.

Taylor, who struck out six batters to give him 92 on the season, was pitching with a heavy heart. The lefty was pitching after learning that one of his best friends from high school was diagnosed with leukemia.

A Sunday, Funday on May 22nd will help raise knowledge and awareness of Ryan Strasdauskas and his illness. For more information, click here.

The Fighting Owls and No. 2 Potomac State were involved in a thrilling back-and-forth contest in the winner's bracket before darkness was the ultimate winner for the time being. The Catamounts led 14-11 as the teams headed to the top of the ninth when the game was called.

Riley was 3-for-4 in the game, while Wolfe was 3-for-5 with four RBIs. Castro scored three runs, while Riley, Wilson, Octavi and Simon Beloff scored twice, each.

The Fighting Owls, who are the home team in every game of the tournament, will take the field when play resumes Sunday morning at 10 a.m. The team's seven-eight-and-nine hitters will look to start a rally in the bottom half of the frame.