Catawba Ridge’s Ben Wilson hit a walk-off double in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Copperheads baseball team its first ever win over the Fort Mill Yellow Jackets with a 1-0 victory Wednesday night.
The game went into extra innings after both starters – Jackson Mullen for the Copperheads and Mikey Terribile for Fort Mill went seven scoreless innings. The game was a pitcher’s dual as the two teams combined for four hits.
Mullen went seven innings without giving up a hit and struck out 17 Fort Mill hitters while walking one. He was replaced with Caden Glauber after reaching his pitch count. Glauber pitched one inning and allowed one hit striking out two, to get the win.
Catawba Ridge improves to 3-2 on the season, while Fort Mill drops to 3-2. Copperheads head coach Stas Swerdzewski was confident that his starter would be able to put together a good game.
“We are confident that anytime Jackson toes the rubber we have a really good chance to win,” he said. “We were facing a great team in Fort Mill, but we have all the confidence in the world in Jackson. He has great stuff.”
The first hit of the game for either team didn’t come until the bottom of the fifth inning when Sam Schwamb doubled for the Copperheads with two outs. Fort Mill was able to get out of the inning without giving up the run.
Fort Mill had their chances at least once as they had a runner on second and third in the top of the sixth inning. Jaeger Pankowski walked to open the inning and then was replaced by pinch runner JB Walters. Jackson McKinney sacrificed Walters to second and he would eventually reach third as Carter Blankinship would reach first on a dropped third strike and steal second. However, all the action fell by the wayside as the next two batters for Fort Mill would strikeout leaving them stranded as the Jackets failed to push across a run.
Pankowski did get the Jackets’ only hit of the game with a single in the top of the eighth inning, but the Jackets offense couldn’t drive him in.
“It is early in the year,” said Fort Mill head coach Travis Collier. “Pitchers are still going to be ahead of hitters. It will be like that for another week or so. I am not too concerned with that right now. The biggest thing is making small adjustments when you can and giving yourself a chance.”
In the bottom of the eighth, Aiden Cattarin singled to lead the inning off with Pankowski now on the mound for Fort Mill. He would be driven in two batters later on a double from Wilson to win the game.
Both Fort Mill and Catawba Ridge play each other again Thursday, March 9 at Fort Mill High. The game was moved from Friday, March 10 due to pending weather coming through the area.
Wednesday, March 8 Roundup
Golf
The Nation Ford Falcons golf team beat both Indian Land and Fort Mill at the Tega Cay Golf Course Wednesday. Nation Ford shot a 151 and was led by an even par 36 from both Ben Mills and Ben Wakefield. Justin Wosje finished with a 39 and both Tyler Kemmerlin and Carter Smith shot a 40. Fort Mill shot a 154 and was led by a two under par 34 by Cam Baker. Parker Harrigan, Austin Anderson and Mason Jaeckli each shot a 40 and Baker Tolentino finished with a 41.
The Catawba Ridge golf team beat South Pointe 161-222 and was led by OT Mitchell with a one-under par 35 at Fort Mill Golf Club. Hunter Warren shot a 38 followed by a 43 from Drew White and a 45 from Killian Kirby.
Tennis
The Nation Ford tennis team beat Indian Land 6-0. Ian Drane won at No. 1 singles for the Falcons 6-0, 6-0 and Akhil Kanthamneni won at No. 2 singles 6-0, 6-1. George Lynch won 6-1, 6-0 at No. 3 singles and Ziad Baki won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 4 singles. Rounding out singles play was Deep Patel with a 6-1, 6-3 win at No. 5 singles. Addison English and Aryan Goel won in three sets in No. 2 doubles 6-4, 5-7, 12-10 for the Falcons.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
