GILBERT – After getting off to a bad start in day one of the Sandlapper Spring Break tournament, the Fort Mill baseball team rallied in day two of the tournament to finish third.
The Jackets fell to Spring Valley 3-2 and North Augusta 4-0 in Tuesday’s games, but came back to sweep a doubleheader over South Aiken winning 8-0 and 10-1 Wednesday. With the doubleheader sweep Wednesday, Fort Mill improves to 8-6 overall on the season. This was the second aspect of the Sandlapper tournament at Gilbert High as Catawba Ridge played in the first portion of the tournament over the Easter weekend.
Fort Mill had eight hits in both games and relied on the pitching of Brayden Franse to guide them on the mound in game two to the 10-1 win. Franse went five innings in game two allowing six hits and striking out three, while walking one and not surrendering a run.
The Jackets’ Eli Craddock led the way in the second game Wednesday driving in three runs with the help of a hit, two walks as well and a sacrifice fly. Fort Mill had eight different players get hits in the second game.
In game two, Fort Mill started quickly scoring two runs in the first, two in the second inning and added a fifth run in the fourth inning to take a 5-0 lead. The Jackets exploded in the sixth inning with a five-run inning after South Aiken scored their only run of the game in the top of the sixth.
In game one of the doubleheader, Fort Mill pitching again led the way pacing their offense. Mathieu Curtis went five innings to start things off for the Jackets allowing just two hits, while walking two and striking out eight for Fort Mill in the 8-0 shutout. The Jackets held South Aiken to just three hits in the game.
Fort Mill started just as quickly in the first game scoring five runs in the first inning and had a 7-0 lead after the second inning. Craddock went 1-2 at the plate and Scott Young went 2-3 with two RBI at the plate to lead Fort Mill. Dusty Sanderlin went 1-3 with two RBI as well in the win.
The Jackets are finished with games for spring break and will return to action April 12 opening a three-game series against Boiling Springs. Game one of the series is on the road with game two being at home April 14 for Fort Mill. Game three will be April 16 back at Boiling Springs.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
