The Fort Mill softball team opened the 5A playoffs with a shutout of the Ridge View Blazers.
Fort Mill won 9-0 with a commanding performance from pitcher Maddie Drerup who allowed just one hit and struck out 15.
The Jackets had three big innings of scoring three runs on four hits in each of those innings to give all the run support Drerup would need. Still head coach Chuck Stegall said his team needs to play better moving forward.
“We didn’t play like we should have but we won,” he said. “This is the playoffs. We have got to take it up a notch.”
Fort Mill ran through the Ridge View line up both offensively and defensively as the Jackets had 14 hits in the game with every player getting a hit. Brynn Bartolini led the Jackets going 3-5 and both Trista Reid and Emma Tisdale each had two hits as well.
The Jackets started their scoring in the first inning as Trinity Wall doubled in both Drerup and Ava Balsinger. Wall would eventually score as well to put Fort Mill up 3-0.
The third and fourth innings were just as productive for Fort Mill as they scored six runs on eight hits in those innings. In the third inning, Tisdale would double scoring Wall and Balsinger would drive in a run as well to go along with some Blazers’ errors.
In the fourth inning, Reid would single to open the inning and Sydnie Spears would drive in a run along with Ridge View continuing with errors giving Fort Mill some additional support. The Blazers made five errors in the game.
Fort Mill is now scheduled to take on Riverside Friday in the second round of the District playoffs.
In other games…
The Fort Mill baseball team beat Spring Valley 6-1 in their opening game of the 5A playoffs. Mathieu Curtis would go nearly the entire game and allow five hits and one run while striking out 11 to get the win. Brent Laughter would hit a three-run home run to lift the Jackets. Fort Mill will now travel to Dorman to play in the second round of the District playoffs Thursday.
The Catawba Ridge softball team won 6-0 as they beat Westwood. Pitcher Chloe Burger pitched a one hitter to power the Copperheads. They will now host Westside Thursday in their second round of the District playoffs.
The Nation Ford tennis team fell in the Upper State championship to JL Mann 4-2. JL Mann will face Wando Saturday in Florence for the 5A state tennis title.
The Nation Ford boys’ soccer team won 3-2 in penalty kicks over TL Hanna to advance to the third round of the 5A state playoffs Friday. The Falcons will host Dorman in the third round.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
