LAURENS – Another big inning led to a game deciding win, this time it was Laurens Post 25 that was victorious.
Laurens beat Fort Mill Post 43 Juniors won 14-4 scoring 10 runs in the fifth inning breaking open a 4-4 tie to even the playoff series at 1-1.
After starting about 55 minutes late because of a weather delay, Laurens faced the minimum in the top of the first against Post 43.
Laurens started off in the bottom of the first with back-to-back walks. A fielder’s choice scored a run for Post 25.
Brayden Grogan singled and Mac Young walked to start the second. A double play aided Laurens, but then a walk to Reid Wackler and a hit batter in Roman Ricci loaded the bases for Fort Mill. Despite that, they were unable to score as Laurens held a 1-0 lead.
Post 43 starter Max Dunlap settled down in the second inning and allowed just one hit for Laurens.
In the third, Fort Mill started with consecutive walks to Dunlap and Jackson Carroll. Matthew Scott reached on a fielder’s choice and Grogan drove in Dunlap and Young drove in Scott to give Post 43 the lead. Steven Coppola doubled scoring Grogan to put Fort Mill up 3-1.
A walk and two hit batters loaded the bases for Laurens in the bottom of the third inning with two outs. However, Dunlap battled back to get the next batter to pop up.
In the fourth inning, Carroll was hit by a pitch and would eventually score on an error pushing the Fort Mill lead to 4-1.
In the bottom of the inning back-to-back hits scored a run for Post 25. Dunlap would again work out of the inning to allow Fort Mill to keep the lead.
Coppola led the top of the fifth off with a single and would make it to third on a stolen base and an error. He would be left stranded on third to end the inning.
In the bottom of the inning, a walk and a single put runners in scoring position. Consecutive wild pitches scored a run and then throwing error allowed Laurens to tie the game at four before Post 43 could get out of the inning.
A two out single and consecutive walks loaded the bases for Fort Mill in the sixth inning, but again they struggled to get the timely hit they needed.
Scott came to the mound in the bottom of the sixth. Dunlap went five innings and allowed four runs on five hits, while walking five and striking out three.
Laurens started the sixth with two singles and a walk to load the bases. They would go on to score six runs on five hits and two errors by Post 43 without getting an out leading to Reid Wackler coming in to pitch. A couple of errors led to four more runs by Laurens giving them the win on the mercy rule.
July 9 Roundup
The Fort Mill Post 43 Seniors finished the regular season with a commanding 18-0 win over York to improve to 12-4 overall. Fort Mill scored six runs in the first and nine in the second inning. TJ McCluney, Cooper Diehl, and Jack Shelnutt each had two hits to lead Post 43. James Carlin and JT Leonhardt both had two RBI. Alex Blanchette had four RBI in the game.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
