CHESNEE – The Fort Mill Post 43 Seniors opened the American Legion Senior state tournament with a road win at Chesnee Post 48.
Fort Mill won 15-7 to open the tournament and will now host Summerville Post 21 on Wednesday, July 22.
Fort Mill didn’t waste any time as TJ McCluney homered for Post 43 on the first pitch of the game. Jack Shelnutt singled and then Alex Blanchette hit a two-run home run to left center putting Fort Mill up 3-0. Ethan Solnick walked and James Carlin singled. JT Leonhardt hit an infield single scoring Solnick to put Post 43 up 4-0 in the top half of the first.
Chesnee hit a leadoff double to start the bottom half of the first inning. Post 48 would put runners on the corners with two outs. Fort Mill starter Carter Powell would rally to get the third out with a strikeout.
Post 43 wasn’t as offensively strong in the second inning going down in order. However, Powell remained strong striking out the side in the second.
In the top of the third, Jackson Carroll was hit by a pitch, but it was the only base runner Fort Mill could get.
Fort Mill started hitting again in the fourth inning as Jackson Bendis reached on an infield single and McCluney would also single with one out. However, a double play ended the inning quickly for Post 43.
In the bottom of the fourth, a single and walk put two on for Chesnee with one out. A triple scored two for Post 48 giving them their first runs of the game. A Fort Mill error scored a run for Chesnee and then consecutive hits loaded the bases for Post 48 before a pitching change for Post 43.
Powell would leave allowing five runs on five hits, while striking out seven and walking two.
Emerson Rhodes came in for Powell and walked the first batter to tie the game at four. A base hit scored another run to put Chesnee ahead, but a double play was able to help get Fort Mill out of the inning.
In the top of the fifth, Fort Mill got two runs in with consecutive walks. Carroll singled to make the bases loaded. Carlin got an RBI walk scoring Solnick, which walked earlier, and tying the game. Leonhardt singled scoring Knoll, who walked, putting Post 43 back on top at 6-5.
In the bottom of the inning, a hit batter and consecutive hits again loaded the bases for Post 48. Rhodes would get out of the inning as he battled back to get consecutive strikeouts to get out of the jam.
In the sixth, Shelnutt and Blanchette both singled to start the inning. A bunt single by Solnick loaded the bases with no outs. Knoll doubled scoring two runs to extend the Fort Mill lead.
Chesnee led the bottom of the sixth off with nearly consecutive home runs, but then had their offense sputter as Post 43 maintained the lead.
In the seventh, Shelnutt and Blanchette both walked before a bases clearing triple by Solnick gave Fort Mill some breathing room with one out. Knoll singled in Solnick and Carroll doubled. Carlin drove in Knoll and put runners on the corners for Post 43. Leonhardt singled in courtesy runner Daniel McCloskey. Bendis then walked to load the bases.
After batting around, Shelnutt was hit giving Fort Mill another run leading to a pitching change for Chesnee. Blanchette walked in another run pushing the Post 43 lead to 15-7.
Rhodes came out in the seventh to face the minimum and close out the game. He for the win going three and two third innings allowing two runs on five hits, while walking one and striking out six.
Leonhardt went 3-4 with three RBI. Blanchette and Knoll had three RBI as well. Seven other Fort Mill players had two hits each as well. Carlin had two RBI.
With the win, Post 43 improved to 15-4 overall on the season.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
