Fort Mill Post 43 senior team closed out day one of the North Carolina-South Carolina Challenge beating Cherryville Post 100.
The Palmetto State leads 2-0 over the Tar Heel State as both Fort Mill and Florence Post 1 won on the opening day of the challenge held at Fort Mill High School.
Fort Mill won 8-3 as they had a dozen hits in the game despite starting slow. Zach Jennings, Sam Czyz and Drew Brink all had two hits in the game for Post 43. Scott Young, Jonathan Barschow and Jennings each had two RBIs in the game.
Young drove the first run of the game in for Post 43 in the first inning with a sacrifice fly scoring Nico Bartolotti. Jennings then drove in Gabe Simmons who singled earlier in the inning.
In the third inning, Cherryville went up 3-2, but Fort Mill rallied in the bottom half of the inning. Simmons walked and was driven in on a single by Jennings again. Barschow would double in Czyz to put Post 43 back up 5-3 where they would stay.
In the fourth inning, Young doubled scoring Brink, who singled to open the inning and extend the Fort Mill lead.
Post 43 finished off the scoring in the sixth inning as Eli Craddock doubled opening the bottom half of the inning. Bartolotti would then drive in pinch runner Blake Sanders and Drew Endres would then hit a sacrifice scoring Simmons, who reached after getting hit by a pitch.
On the mound for Post 43, Lane Ross would get the start and went two innings allowing three runs on four hits. Nick Krise came in to relieve him and go five innings allowing just two hits, while walking two and striking out four to get the win.
The win improves Post 43 to 5-3 overall on the season. Up next for Post 43 is closing out day two against Queen City Saturday, June 17. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
Florence Post 1, who beat Cherryville 15-5 to open the Challenge, will lead off day two at 11 a.m. taking on Davidson County and then play Queen City out of Charlotte afterwards.
Rock Hill Post 34 will play Cherryville at 4 p.m. leading into Fort Mill’s game afterward.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
