Softball season officially started for the Fort Mill Yellow Jackets with a win over Charlotte Catholic.
Fort Mill beat the North Carolina private school 8-4 to open their season at 1-0.
“Our pitchers, Haley (Rogers) and Elaina (Hildebrand) have put in a lot of work in the off season,” said Fort Mill head coach Skyler O’Mara. “Haley pitched a heck of a game. Using Elaina, the last two innings benefited us. She came in and pitched lights out. Our defense is going to benefit us this year.
“Offensively, we have put in a lot of work. I think defense wins games. If we want to win, we need to support our pitcher. All around I am looking forward to this year and I think you will see the difference.”
After a scoreless top of the first, Fort Mill didn’t waste any time scoring. Brooke Rosario doubled to lead the game off for the Jackets and Elise Nordgren singled her in to put Fort Milll on the board. Two batters later Lexi Verastegui doubled to score Nordgren.
Rogers, the Fort Mill starter, after giving up two hits in the top of the first, settled down and allowed just one base runner in the second inning.
In the bottom of the inning, the Jackets threatened with a single by Kennedy Cullings and a walk to Rosario, but wasn’t able to scratch a run.
Charlotte Catholic got two base runners in top of the third off walks, but still were unable to score.
The bottom of the inning saw Fort Mill add its third run. Mallory Moore singled and courtesy runner Izzy Zook scored on a Catholic error to put Fort Mill ahead 3-0.
Rogers faced the minimum in the fourth inning as Fort Mill again threatened in the bottom half. Back-to-back singles by Cullings and Ella Beebe started the inning off and a walk to Rosario loaded the bases, but again the Jackets left the bases loaded without getting a run across.
In the fifth inning, Charlotte Catholic finally broke through scoring twice, one on a solo home run, to pull within one at 3-2.
Fort Mill got those runs back in the bottom of the fifth with singles by Moore and Verastegui, but another double play by the Jackets hurt their chances.
Rogers singled and a Catholic error scored a run for Fort Mill, before Beebe drove in courtesy runner Maggie Belue to make it 5-2.
Charlotte Catholic kept chipping away at Fort Mill’s lead with another solo home run to start the sixth inning. Rogers would soon be replaced by Hildebrand after allowing another hit. Hildebrand would allow one run to make it 5-4, but then came back and struck out three straight to get out of a bases loaded jam.
Rosario walked to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning for the Jackets. She would steal second and Emily Poteat doubled her in. A fielder’s choice by Moore scored Poteat. An infield single by Hildebrand scored Zook as Fort Mill took an 8-4 lead to the seventh.
Hildebrand continued to pitch in the top of the seventh and allowed just a single before closing things out for the Jackets.
Fort Mill was led at the plate by Verastegui, who went 3-4 with an RBI. Beebe, Cullings, and Moore each had two hits as well.
Rogers got the win going six innings and allowing three runs on eight hits, while walking four and striking out 13. Hildebrand got the save pitching the final two innings and striking out five.
March 2 Roundup
The Catawba Ridge baseball team improved to 4-0 on the season with a 4-0 win over Hanahan to finish out their pre-season tournament at the Shipyard in Charleston. Bryce Meil pitched five innings and allowed two hits, while striking seven. Ryan Cunningham went 1-2 with two RBIs to lead at the plate for Catawba Ridge.
The Nation Ford baseball team got their first win of the season with a 7-3 win over Andrew Jackson as part of the Comporium Invitational at Andrew Jackson High School. Jacob Neff went 3-4 with an RBI to lead the Falcons, who improved to 1-1 on the season, giving new head coach Josh Corley his first win.
The Nation Ford softball team beat Buford 11-6 to open their season at 1-0. Kinslee Adamson had three hits and four RBIs in the win. Kailey Alston got the win going six innings and allowing four runs on five hits, while walking two and striking out 10.
The Nation Ford boys’ lacrosse team lost their home opener to Chapin 14-9 to drop to 0-2 on the season.
The Catawba Ridge girls’ lacrosse team lost 19-5 to South Meck from Charlotte to open their season.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
