INMAN – With a first-round sweep of Inman Post 45, the Fort Mill Post 43 seniors move to the second round of the American Legion playoffs to face Lexington Post 7 next week.
Fort Mill beat Inman 9-1 in the second game of their best of three first round playoff series and improved to 7-9-1 overall on the season.
“We knew entering this series that we were going up against a team that had a lot of talent and was very well coached,” said Post 43 seniors head coach Tom Skula. “I preached prior to game one to our guys that the playoffs are a whole new season. Throw out our record and stats, it is an opportunity to start fresh and wipe the slate clean.”
Post 43 got off to a hot start in the game scoring nine runs on nine hits as Trevor Testerman opened the game up with a home run to left center for the first homer of the season for Fort Mill. That solo shot gave Post 43 a 1-0 lead.
In the third inning, Fort Mill added two more runs as Eli Craddock would knock in Drew Endres on a sacrifice fly and Scott Young would double in Cooper Wilson to give Post 43 a 3-0 lead.
Inman got their only run of the game in the fourth inning as a wild pitch allowed the lone run for Post 45.
In the sixth inning, Dusty Sanderlin hit the second home run of the game to left field, a solo shot to give Post 43 some insurance making it 4-1. Fort Mill really put the game away in the top of the seventh scoring five runs on four hits and four walks.
Lane Boutwell started the inning off with a bunt single, and three batters later Testerman would hit a single as well scoring Wilson. Craddock would double driving in Testerman, and Alex Steckler would single scoring Craddock.
Post 43 was led at the plate by Testerman and Steckler, both of which got two hits. Testerman went 2-4 with two RBI and Steckler went 2-4 as well with an RBI. Craddock went 1-3 with two RBI also.
Defensively, Fort Mill pitched well despite issuing four walks. Greyson Wild got the win going five innings and allowing one run on two hits, while walking three and striking out six. Seth Hanson pitched two innings of relief without allowing a hit, while walking one and striking out one.
“Our pitching has been phenomenal all season and that continued into this series,” Skula said. “Dusty and Greyson gave us both quality starts that put us in a position to win each night.”
Fort Mill returns to action next Monday, July 18 against Lexington. They will host Lexington in a home game at Catawba Ridge Tuesday, July 19.
“I am excited to see that our bats are starting to get going,” Skula said. “If we enter each game ready to compete with the right mentality we had this week, I am excited to see what this team can do moving forward in the playoffs.”
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
