Both the Fort Mill Post 43 senior and junior American Legion teams picked up wins in critical playoff games Tuesday evening.
The Fort Mill senior team beat Inman Post 43 6-5 in game one of their best of three game first round series with the help of struggling pitching from Inman. Fort Mill improved to 6-9-1 overall with the win.
Post 43 scored a run in the bottom of the sixth inning with the game tied at 5-5 on a wild pitch which ended up being the eventual game winner.
Inman got just three hits in the game as Post 43 helped them out with six walks and two errors in the game. Fort Mill opened the game scoring three runs in the bottom of the first to take a comfortable lead.
The lead soon evaporated in the third inning as Inman scored four runs in the top off an error and three walks from Post 43. Inman extended their lead to 5-3 in the fourth as Kadan Roach doubled to open the inning and then eventually scored on a Post 43 error.
Fort Mill would rally in the fifth scoring two runs as Trevor Testerman would double to open the bottom half of the inning, before eventually scoring on a wild pitch. Scott Young would tie the game up with a sacrifice fly to center field scoring Eli Craddock.
Then in the sixth inning, Drew Endres for Fort Mill walked and would make his way around to third on a sacrifice bunt from Cooper Wilson and a ground out, before scoring on another Inman wild pitch. Inman threw five wild pitches in the game.
Post 43 was led at the plate in their eight-hit performance by Craddock, who went 2-3 with an RBI, and Testerman, who went 2-4 with an RBI. Young went 1-2 with two RBIs in the game.
On the mound for Post 43, Dusty Sanderlin got the start and pitched five and a third innings allowing five runs on three hits, while walking six. Kyle Knoll came in relief for an inning and two thirds to get the win without giving up a hit or a walk.
Fort Mill heads to Inman Wednesday for game two in the series.
Juniors sweep York
Fort Mill Post 43 Juniors rallied and came from behind down 5-2 to get a 7-5 win over York Post 66 to sweep their first round series.
Post 43 scored two runs in the top of the first, but then York posted five runs in the bottom of the third to grab the lead. Fort Mill scored five unanswered to come back for the win.
Reid Kazmierczak went 3-3 with two RBI and Bradyn Deaton went 2-5 to lead at the plate. Brody Owens got the win in relief going four innings and allowing just two hits, while walking two and striking out four.
Fort Mill will now play Inman Post 45 in the second round in the best two out of three series starting Monday, July 18. They will have to travel to Inman for game one and would be at home at Nation Ford for game two.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
