The Fort Mill Yellow Jackets baseball took a crucial step in winning a Region 3-5A title with one series left.
The Jackets took the rubber match 10-6 over the Indian Land Warriors beating them twice on their own field and taking the region leading series 2-1.
“We put ourselves in a really good position,” said Fort Mill head baseball coach Travis Collier. “We are tied with Indian Land and have the tie breaker over them with one series to go. As a coach, this late in the season, you want to have a chance to control your own destiny. The Nation Ford series is big for everybody.”
Fort Mill improved to 15-4 overall and 11-4 in Region 3-5A. Indian Land fell to 16-4 overall and are also 11-4 in the region.
Game three was important for both teams and Fort Mill didn’t waste any time coming out of the gates. Fort Mill’s Jacob Pettit turned on the first pitch of the game and hit a home run to dead center.
That was followed by a single from Josh Patterson and a double from Carter Blankinship. Brent Laughter then walked to load the bases with no outs. A fielder’s choice scored Patterson and then a single by Braden Richardson put Fort Mill up 3-0 as it scored Michael Rogers, who reached on the fielder’s choice.
In the bottom of the first, Indian Land’s Johnny Compton reached to get things rolling for the Warriors. Compton would score on a wild pitch to get Indian Land on the board.
Indian Land closed the gap in the bottom half of the second inning. Bodie Langborogh hit a solo home run to left field to make it 3-1.
In the top of the third inning, Rogers and Andrew Craddock singled to start things off for the Jackets. Cooper Diehl drove in Rogers on a sacrifice and JB Walters singled to score Craddock. Pettit then smashed a two-run home run to right field to put the Jackets up 7-2.
Then in the bottom of the third, Indian Land rallied as Joseph Rutledge hit a three-run home run to make it 7-5 with one out. Fort Mill starter Sullivan Townley was pulled and John Risk came in for relief. James Knoll walked and Cole Dombkowski doubled to put pressure on Risk. However, Risk battled back to get out of the inning.
Laughter and Rogers both singled starting out the fourth inning. A wild pitch scored pinch runner Jackson Bendis after Indian Land replaced starter Alex Blanchette with John Huntt. Huntt then walked Craddock but got out of the inning without another run scoring.
After a couple of uneventful half innings, Rutledge walked and Knoll singled, before Dombkowski drove Rutledge in to make it 8-6 with one out in the fifth inning. That led to Risk coming out for Fort Mill and Tucker Gandy coming to the mound. Gandy got the Jackets out without allowing a run.
In the top of the sixth, Blankinship walked and Indian Land went to the bullpen again bringing in Emerson Rhodes. Craddock then singled in Blankinship and a balk allowed Bendis to score to push the Fort Mill lead to 10-6.
Indian Land threatened again with getting Blanchette and Compton on, before Gandy came back to get three outs in the bottom of the sixth. Gandy also came through again in the seventh inning getting three straight outs to close things out for the Jackets.
Pettit led Fort Mill at the plate going 2-5 with three RBIs. Craddock and Rogers each went 2-3 with RBIs as well.
Townley got the win going two and a third innings allowing five runs on three hits, while walking four. Risk in relief worked two innings allowing one run on three hits, while walking two and striking out two. Gandy finished with two and two-thirds innings work without allowing a hit or a run, while walking one and striking out three.
Up next for Fort Mill is a three-day tournament in Myrtle Beach as part of their spring break. They will start their three-game series against Nation Ford on Monday, April 28 at Nation Ford.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
