The Fort Mill Post 43 Seniors wrapped up the regular season winning a slugfest against Camden Post 17.
Fort Mill won 14-9 as they scattered 15 hits and gave Camden its second loss of the season. Post 43 finished the regular season at 10-9 overall and 8-4 in League IV play.
Camden got a couple of base runners on in the top of the first, but Post 43 starter Kody Romero looked strong and kept them from scoring.
Fort Mill started well with a single from Josh Patterson and a double from Jacob Pettit. Patterson then scored on a wild pitch to put Post 43 up 1-0. James Knoll drove in Pettit on a single to left with one out. Michael Rogers and Brayden Hampton singled as Hampton drove in Knoll putting Fort Mill up 3-0.
In the second, Camden got the first two hitters on. Post 17 had a run score on an error by Fort Mill to get on the scoreboard. Post 43 was able to get out of the inning only giving up one run.
Fort Mill kept things rolling in the second inning as TJ McCluney walked and Patterson doubled. Pettit reached on an error scoring McCluney and Knoll hit a two-run single scoring Patterson and Pettit to put Post 43 up 7-1. Knoll scored on a wild pitch extending Fort Mill’s lead with one out, but then things slowed down for them as they couldn’t keep the momentum going.
Camden stayed alive as another Post 43 error scored a run pulling within six at 8-2.
Fort Mill added three runs on three hits and an error. Patterson reached on an error and both Pettit and Andrew Craddock singled. Both Pettit and Craddock scored in the inning.
In the fourth inning, Cole Gutmann replaced Romero on the mound. Romero went three innings allowing two runners on two hits, while walking three and striking out eight.
Camden made a comeback scoring four runs on four hits in the fourth inning. Post 17 kept it going in the fifth scoring a run with no outs before Gutmann was pulled for Michael Rogers. A third Fort Mill error led to the eighth Post 17 run before they were able to get out of the inning.
Rogers helped his cause in the bottom of the fifth inning as he drove in two runs. Knoll started the inning off with a double and Gutmann walked before the Rogers single scored them both.
Camden picked up a run in the top of the sixth, but Fort Mill got it back after Patterson walked and Pettit scored him from first on a single, before a Camden pitching change.
Rogers was replaced by Ben Chuttey on the mound in the seventh inning. Rogers went two innings allowing one run in three hits, while striking out one. Chuttey did his job and got Fort Mill out of the inning to end the game.
Knoll went 3-4 with three RBIs and Pettit went 3-4 with two RBIs. Patterson, Craddock, Hampton, and Rogers each had two hits.
Fort Mill Seniors start the playoffs on Monday, July 21 against an opponent to be determined.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
