A four-run fourth inning by the Fort Mill Yellow Jackets powered them to a series clinching victory over the Nation Ford Falcons.
Fort Mill won 6-4 to clinch the series with game three scheduled for May 1 at Nation Ford.
The Jackets improved to 19-5 overall and 13-4 In Region 3-5A. Nation Ford fell to 11-14 overall and 7-10 in the region.
Cooper Mitchell and Simon Fernandez both singled in the top of the first to get started for Nation Ford getting to Fort Mill starter Alex Carreiro. Three first inning walks aided the Falcons as well as Nation Ford went up early 2-0 before the Jackets came to the plate.
Mitchell, Nation Ford starter, had strong command early on as just one Fort Mill player reached base in the bottom of the inning.
Carreiro settled down in the second inning as just one Falcon reached base on an error by Fort Mill.
The Jackets struggled getting hits as in the second, they had just one batter reach base after getting hit by a pitch.
The Falcons’ Justin Brink led the third inning off with a single and would be driven in by a two-out single from Carson Krueger to put Nation Ford up 3-0.
Fort Mill’s JB Walters led the bottom of the third off with a double to left field for the Jackets’ first hit. Jacob Pettit walked and Josh Patterson laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners. A wild pitch scored Walters to put the Jackets on the board. And before the end of the inning, a second wild pitch for Fort Mill back in the game making the score 3-2.
The Jackets kept the momentum going after a leadoff single in the fourth from Michael Rogers. Cooper Diehl was hit by a pitch putting two runners on with one out. Braden Richardson was then hit also loading the bases for Fort Mill.
Walters hit another double this time driving in two putting the Jackets up 4-3. Pettit was intentionally walked to keep the bases loaded with Jackets, before Nation Ford went to their bullpen bringing in Ryan Dyer.
Patterson then singled in Richardson and Carter Blankinship walked scoring Walters. Dyer would work out of the jam but not without Fort Mill taking a 6-3 lead. The line on Mitchell was six runs on three hits through three and a third, while walking three and striking out five.
Nation Ford got a runner on in the fifth inning, but wasn’t able to bring him in.
Tucker Gandy came in the sixth inning for Fort Mill. Carreiro would go five innings allowing three runs on four hits, while walking five and striking out three.
The offense slowed down in the later innings as pitching for both teams didn’t give up any hits. Gandy would finish out the game for the Jackets as he went two innings and struck out three without allowing any base runners.
April 30 Roundup
The Catawba Ridge baseball team beat Clover 4-0 to take game two of their three game series. The Copperheads are now 17-7-1 on the season and 12-5 in Region 3-5A play. Jack Provenzano and Caden Glauber each had two hits for Catawba Ridge. Bryce Meil went six innings allowing no runs on four hits, while walking two and striking out 11.
The Catawba Ridge softball team dropped its first game of the season falling to 23-1 on the season with a 9-4 loss to Lexington. The Copperheads made five errors in the loss. Catawba Ridge finishes their regular season at Clover on Friday, May 2.
The Catawba Ridge girls’ soccer team fell to South Point (NC) 1-0 to drop to 15-6 overall on the season.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
