KERSHAW – The Nation Ford Falcons baseball team opened their season with a loss in the Orange Pit at Andrew Jackson High School.
The Falcons fell to the South Pointe Stallions 9-4 as part of the 16th annual Comporium Baseball Invitational at the Kershaw based high school.
“Walks and errors,” said Nation Ford head coach Josh Corley, in his first game at the helm. “We had 11 free passes I think and we also had two outs on the bases. So that is a big thing. They hit through the order five times. Offensively, we didn’t swing it bad, we just couldn’t put together a big inning. Not the worse game we could play, but definitely not good enough.”
Alex Smith drove in Noah Layton, who walked and then stole both second and third, to put the Falcons up early 1-0 after the top of the first inning.
Carter Powell got the start for Nation Ford on the mound. South Pointe was able to collect some hits, going ahead 4-1. The Stallions got to Powell early as he looked to find the zone and issued four walks in the first inning.
The Falcons’ Michael Caropreso opened the second inning with a single, but was picked off for the second out of the inning. Nation Ford was unable to score in the inning.
Carter Czapla took the mound in the second inning and held the Stallions at bay allowing just one hit and a walk without South Pointe scoring.
In the top of the third, Nation Ford started making noise. Michai Prowsior walked to start the inning and then reached third on a South Pointe error. Another walk put runners on the corner with no outs. A delayed steal scored Prowsior as the Falcons started running on the Stallions. Nation Ford scored another run to pull within one, but more base running issues led to them not being able to tie the game.
South Pointe extended their lead with a run in the bottom of the third inning and again threatened in the fourth inning, but the Falcons were able to get out of the inning without allowing a run.
Nation Ford got one runner on base in the fifth to start. Blake Chatman singled to open things and pinch runner Michael Blum scored on a Layton double to left to bring the score to 5-4.
The Stallions continued to get baserunners aided by the Falcons struggling in the field in the bottom of the fifth. South Pointe extended their lead with their bats as well. A bases loaded double scored two more Stallion runs before a pitching change for Nation Ford brought in Jacob Neff.
A two out double added to the Stallions lead after the pitching change to make it 9-4 before the Falcons could get out of the inning.
South Pointe threatened in the sixth inning, but Nation Ford was as able to get out of it without surrendering a run.
The Falcons got just four hits in the game and made four errors. Layton led at the plate going 2-2 with two RBIs. Chatman and Caropreso each went 1-3. Smith had an RBI in the loss.
Feb. 28 Roundup
The Catawba Ridge baseball team improved to 2-0 on the season with a 7-6 over Ashley Ridge in day two of their tournament at the Shipyard in Charleston. Bryce Meil went 3-3 in the win, as Meil, Ethan Solnick, and James Carlin each had two RBIs.
The Nation Ford girls’ varsity soccer team beat West Ashley 1-0 to improve to 3-0 on the season at the Viking Cup.
The Fort Mill girls’ varsity soccer team beat Carolina Forest 1-0 to improve to 1-1 on the season at the Viking Cup.
The Catawba Ride girls’ varsity soccer team beat Hilton Head 2-1 at the Viking Cup to open their season 1-0.
The Nation Ford boys’ varsity soccer team dropped a 3-0 match to Wando in the Capital Cup to fall to 2-3 on the season
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
