The game was anything but pretty for either team.
Fort Mill Post 43 Juniors won 23-13 over Laurens Post 25 in game one of the best of three playoff series to open the second round of the state playoffs after getting a bye in the first round. The two teams combined for 22 hits and 12 errors. Post 43 improved to 10-3 on the season and will head to Laurens High School on Thursday, July 9 for game two of the series.
Laurens started the game off getting the first two base runners on off walks and then a single to load the bases. Another hit put Laurens up 2-0 with no outs. Post 43 starter Matthew Scott got pulled after 25 pitches and one out for Reid Wackler. A passed ball scored another run for Post 25 to put them up 3-0 before Fort Mill was able to get out of the top of the first.
In the bottom of the first, Jackson Carroll was hit by a pitch with one out for the first base runner of the game. Scott was also then hit by a pitch. Brayden Grogan doubled to score a run for Post 43. Scott scored on a balk on the next pitch and Reid Levesque walked to put runners on the corners. The rally would put Fort Mill down 3-2 after the first inning.
Max Dunlap took the mound in the second inning for Post 43. A walk and a double by Laurens followed by an error by Post 43 led to two more runs for Post 25. A hit batter and another walk loaded the bases for Laurens. A fielder’s choice scored a run for Post 25 to make it 6-2.
After the score Steven Coppola came to the mound for Fort Mill. Laurens scored on another fielder’s choice. A passed ball and an error posted two more runs for Laurens as they scored six runs in the second inning to go up 9-2.
Coppola led the inning off with a single in the bottom of the second inning for Post 43. Dunlap walked and Coppola scored on a wild pitch. A single by Carroll added another Fort Mill run. Scott kept things moving with a single and Grogan walked to load the bases. Levesque drove in Carroll as Post 43 picked up three runs in the inning on four hits making it 9-5.
Laurens led the top of the third off with a single and then an error by Fort Mill. A walk and another single gave Laurens two more runs.
In the bottom of the third, Fort Mill had a rally for the ages scoring 12 runs to regain the lead. Roman Ricci and Eli Cheske led the bottom of the third inning off with hits. Coppola singled to load the bases. Dunlap singled in two runs for Post 43 as Fort Mill continued to try and keep pace with Post 25.
A Laurens error scored two more runs as Fort Mill pulled within three. Another error put Scott on base and Grogan then doubled pulling Post 43 to within one at 12-11 as Post 25 went to their bullpen.
Levesque then doubled in Grogan after play resumed to tie the game and Mac Young put Fort Mill ahead for the first time in the game. Post 43 scored nine runs in the inning before Laurens got an out. Dunlap singled in Ricci and eventually scored on an error.
Post 25 added a run in the top of the fourth on a hit and an error. Fort Mill started the bottom of the inning with a walk to Levesque, but was unable to score a run in the inning.
For the first time all game, Laurens didn’t score in the top of the fifth. Fort Mill had Coppola lead the bottom half off being hit by a pitch. An error then put Dunlap on and a walk to Scott loaded the bases with one out. A passed ball scored Coppola and another one score Dunlap to make it 19-13.
Laurens then changed pitchers for the fourth time in the game. Scott scored on another passed ball before Laurens got out of the inning.
Cheske and Coppola led the bottom of the six off with doubles. Dunlap walked and Carroll drove in a run on a sacrifice. A walk to Scott again loaded the bases for Post 43. Coppola scored on a passed ball and after a walk to Grogan, Dunlap scored on a passed ball to enforce the 10-run rule.
Coppola went 3-4 to lead Fort Mill at the plate, while Dunlap, Grogan, Levesque, and Cheske each had two hits. Carroll finished with four RBI and both Grogan and Levesque each had two RBI.
Coppola got the win on the mound going four and two third innings allowing five runs on four hits while walking five.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
