INMAN – A two-out error in the bottom of the eighth inning by Fort Mill Post 43 allowed three runs to score for Inman Post 45 walking the game off for win in the 2026 American Legion Junior state tournament opener.
Inman won 15-14 scoring four runs in the bottom of the inning. Post 43 moves onto the elimination bracket to face the loser of Lexington/Aiken on Wednesday, July 15. Lexington and Aiken were rained out on Monday, July 13.
Fort Mill got a single by Jackson Carroll in the first inning but was unable to get him home.
Inman was able to get two on with a one out walk. A single then scored them both putting Post 45 ahead 2-0.
A double steal scored a third run in the bottom of the first and then a double added a fourth run with two outs. Two more hits led to two more runs put Inman up 6-0.
In the second inning, Post 43 starter Christian Boston and Reid Wackler both singled. Steven Coppola walked to load the bases with two outs. Despite the prospects, Fort Mill was unable to score.
After facing the minimum in the second, Eli Cheske led the top of the third inning off with a double. An error allowed him to score and put Jackson Carroll on second. Carroll then stole third and a throwing error allowed him to score. Boston doubled in Brayden Grogan, who was hit by a pitch earlier in the inning. Mac Young reached on an error that scored Reid Levesque making it 6-4.
Inman had three walks in the bottom of the inning to load the bases, but Boston was able to work his way out of the jam without allowing a run to Post 45.
In the top of the fourth, Cheske reached first on a one out bunt. Carroll singled and Grogan was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Two batters later, Boston would be hit by a pitch as Cheske scored pulling Post 43 within one. Young walked scoring Carroll tying the game at six.
Wackler then doubled to score two and give Fort Mill the first lead of the game at 8-6 leading to a pitching change by Inman. Coppola then singled scoring two more runs. Dunlap singled and Cheske walked, but Fort Mill led 10-6 when Post 45 was finally able to get out of the inning.
Wackler came in to pitch the bottom of the fourth inning. Boston settled down after the opening inning and ended the night allowing six runs on four hits, while walking six and striking out four.
Inman opened the bottom of the inning with consecutive singles. A groundout scored a run for Post 45 and then a passed ball scored another one as they pulled within two runs of Fort Mill.
The top of the fifth saw Grogan walk, Boston and Young both get hit by a pitch loading the bases leading to a pitching change. Post 43 was unable to take advantage of the situation and didn’t score in the inning.
Wackler came back in the bottom of the inning for Fort Mill to strike out the side.
Post 43 got one hit in the top of the sixth, but didn’t get close to adding to its lead. In the bottom of the inning, a single allowed a solo base runner for Inman.
Fort Mill picked up some insurance in the seventh. Matthew Scott singled and Boston hit a triple to score him with one out to put Post 43 up 11-8.
A walk and an error in the bottom of the seventh put runners on the corners for Inman to start their half of the inning. An infield hit scored a run for Post 45 with one out. And then with two outs, two wild pitches Inman scored two runs to tie the game at 11.
Fort Mill came back in the top of the eighth to load the bases with one out with a single and a couple of walks. A bases loaded walk to Grogan scored a run for Post 43 followed by another bases loaded walk to Scott, and then a passed ball scored Carroll leading to an Inman pitching change. That change led to them getting out of the inning.
Coppola came in to pitch in the eighth. A walk, a single and an error loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning for Post 45. A walk then scored a run before errors gave Inman the win.
Boston, Cheske and Carroll each had three hits in the game for Fort Mill.
The loss drops Post 43 to 11-5 on the season.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
