Halfway now plays at the Nicholas James Adenhart Memorial Field. It was Halfway's first district title since winning back-to-back crowns in 1998-99 with Adenhart pitching.
Martin has first-hand knowledge of those times since he coached the 1999 team.
"I had Nick on the team the last year we won it," Martin said. "We started telling them about the things that Nick did, and they listened. Every kid wants to get where Nick was."
Halfway took some of the lessons and legend of Adenhart to heart.
After losing to Valley, Halfway outscored its opponents 74-24 in the five games since falling into the losers' bracket. The bats came alive while Martin juggled the pitching to navigate the riggers of playing one loss from elimination.
Halfway went to Conococheague on Wednesday and knocked off the winners' bracket champs 10-4 to force Thursday's decisive game. Matt Malphurs led the way with two home runs while pitching -- ala Adenhart -- a no-hitter for 4 2/3 innings.
On Thursday, it was Tanner Canfield who stood center on Adenhart's old stage, pitching a four-inning complete game and allowing two earned runs. He added two hits and three RBIs to join the crowd led by Zach Andrews, who hit a leadoff home run, and Billy Miller, who capped an eight-run first inning with a grand slam.
"I just went out there with the eye of the tiger," Canfield said. "It felt really good to get the eight runs. I knew the team was behind me."
Andrews' opposite-field homer paved the way for Halfway.
"(The homer) was a big spark that went to the eight runs," Andrews said. "I went back and told everyone to hit the ball hard. It doesn't matter if you hit it 270 feet, just hit the ball hard. This is great because we have four kids who are 12 years old on the team and to go and win the district for them is great."
When it was over, Halfway took its spoils -- the District 1 championship banner -- and took a victory lap around the field. Halfway along the way, the Halfway players stopped to touch the banner of Adenhart's likeness in center field, almost to say thanks for watching over them.
"I was touched when they did that," said Martin.
It's a good bet Adenhart would have been touched by the effort of this generation of Halfway 11-12 All-Stars.
