A walk-off infield single by Jack Shelnutt gave Fort Mill Post 43 a win over Summerville Post 21 to advance in the American Legion senior tournament.
The Shellnut single scores Cooper Armstrong giving Post 43 an 8-7 win. Fort Mill, a sixth seed, moves on to play No. 1 seed Florence Post 1 on Friday, July 24 at Riley Park in Sumter. Post 43 is now 16-4 overall on the season.
Summerville got one on off a single in the top of the first but he was picked off to end the inning.
In the bottom of the inning, TJ McCluney and Shelnutt each singled to start for Fort Mill. Cooper Diehl drove in McCluney to give Post 43 an early lead. James Knoll reached on an error to put runners on the corners. Jackson Carroll singled in both Shellnut and Knoll. Brayden Grogan kept things moving for Fort Mill with a single and Cooper Armstrong then drove in two on a double. Jackson Bendis was hit by a pitch to put two runners on before a pitching change by Post 21. After the change, McCluney drove in Armstrong to put Fort Mill up 6-0 before Summerville was able to get out of the inning.
Post 21, who won 17-14 earlier in the week to open the state tournament, started hitting in the second inning. Consecutive singles and then a wild pitch scored a run for Summerville. A double added another run to the Post 21 tally.
Ethan Solnick reached on an error in the second inning with one out for Fort Mill. Diehl doubled, but Solnick stopped and third as Post 43 was unable to get either one in.
Summerville started the top of the third with consecutive infield singles. Another single loaded the bases, before Post 21 scored on their fourth straight hit. A double scored two more runs to make it 6-4 with two outs.
Post 43 struggled in the fourth inning to produce offensively.
Fort Mill starter Anthony Marano was pulled with two outs in the fourth inning for Caden Stevens. Marano would go three and two thirds allowing four runs on eight hits, while walking one and striking out four.
Stevens put the first two on he faced giving up a single and then hitting a batter. However, he was able to battle back without allowing another run in the inning.
Post 21 would complete the rally and score two runs in the top of the fifth to tie the game at six off two hits.
Diehl led the bottom of the fifth off with a double. He would get out on a fielder’s choice and Grogan singled. Armstrong was walked to load the bases for Fort Mill with two outs. However, Post 43 still was unable to get a run across before the end of the inning.
In the bottom of the sixth, Solnick doubled and Diehl walked. Knoll then drove in Solnick leading to a pitching change for Post 21.
Summerville came back in the top of the seventh to pick up a run on two base hits tying the game at seven.
Armstrong walked to start the bottom of the seventh inning, setting up the game winning hit.
Shelnutt, McCluney, Grogan and Diehl all had two hits for Fort Mill in the game. Stevens got the win going three and a third innings allowing three runs on seven hits, while striking out one.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
