ROCK HILL – A late inning rally wasn’t enough for the Fort Mill Post 43 Juniors as they dropped their final game of the regular season to Rock Hill Post 34.
Fort Mill lost 12-11 scoring eight runs in the final two innings, but it wasn’t enough as they dropped to 9-3 overall. The team made an uncharacteristic nine errors in the game and allowed just three earned runs against Rock Hill.
Max Dunlap led the game off with a single. A two out single by Carter Czapla led to runners on the corners for Fort Mill. Although they got two hits, Post 43 was unable to score on their first opportunity in the game.
Rock Hill came out as hot as the temperature itself. Post 34 scored a run on two hits in the bottom of the inning.
Christian Boston got a hit for Fort Mill in the second, but was left stranded to end the inning.
Rock Hill continued to swing the bat well as Fort Mill went to a different pitcher every inning. In the second inning, it was James Gandolfi replacing starter Reid Levesque, who gave up one run on two hits.
Fort Mill struggled defensively in the inning making three errors in the inning leading to four runs for Rock Hill. Post 34 held a 5-0 lead after the second inning.
Micah Ashworth walked to lead off the third inning for Post 43. Dunlap would hit a double and eventually score on a passed ball to prevent the shutout. The one run was all Fort Mill could scrape together.
Boston took the mound in the third inning for Post 43. Gandolfi would give up four runs on four hits in the second and strike out two. In the third inning, Fort Mill made a fourth error in the game to start the inning. A fifth error, second one in the inning, scored a sixth run for Rock Hill. Post 34 tacked on one more run before the end of the inning to take a 7-1 lead.
In the top of the fourth, Czapla reached on an error and then scored on a triple by Boston. A single by Reid Wackler allowed Boston to score.
Dunlap started strong in the fourth inning, but two hit batters and two walks scored another run for Rock Hill before Post 43 could get out of the inning.
Fort Mill threatened in the fifth inning as Czapla was hit by a pitch and Levesque singled, however, like in previous innings they failed to score.
Carroll took the mound in the fifth inning for Post 43. Rock Hill picked up four runs with the help of three more Fort Mill errors.
In the top of the sixth, Post 43 actually got back into the game scoring six runs to pull within three at 12-9. Both Wackler and Ashworth walked. An RBI walk to Carroll scored Wackler and one to Levesque scored Ashworth. Dunlap, who walked earlier in the inning, scored on a passed ball. Boston hit a bases clearing double and reached third on a Rock Hill error.
Roman Ricci took the mound for Fort Mill in the sixth and faced the minimum in the inning, a first in the game for Post 43.
Fort Mill continued to rally in the seventh. Carroll and Levesque walked and scored on an RBI double by Czapla. However, the game tying run would be left stranded on second.
Boston went 3-5 with three RBI to lead Post 43. Dunlap and Czapla both had two hits in the game.
Fort Mill opens the playoffs next Wednesday, July 8 at home.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
