The Fort Mill Post 43 Juniors were able to punch their ticket back to the American Legion Junior State tournament with a late inning score over Laurens Post 25 to win the series.
Fort Mill won 4-3 scoring a run in the bottom of the sixth inning to get the game winner. The win puts them at 11-4 on the season.
Laurens started with a walk in the top of the first inning to lead the game off. A second walk and then a balk moved the runners up for Post 25. Laurens for their first hit to score two runs.
Fort Mill starter Mac Young was then able to settle in and get out of the inning without allowing another run.
In the bottom of the first, Jackson Carroll led things off for Fort Mill with a double. Carroll stole third but then got doubled off a couple of pitches later on a double play to end the inning.
A one out error put a runner on first for Laurens in the second inning. A walk and a base hit loaded the bases again for Post 25. A fielder’s choice scored a run, but Post 43 was able to keep Laurens contained.
In the bottom of the second, Brayden Grogan walked to start for Fort Mill. Grogan scored on a triple by Steven Coppola putting Post 43 on the board. Coppola was left stranded on third as that is all Fort Mill could get across in the inning.
Laurens got one on in the top of the third, but he was eventually picked off in a run down.
In the bottom of the third, Carroll and Matthew Scott walked as Grogan doubled in a run to pull within one run.
Young continued to look strong on the mound allowing just one hit in the top of the fourth inning and holding Post 25 at bay.
The bottom of the fourth saw a walk from Roman Ricci and a single by Eli Cheske. Ricci scored on an error to tie the game at three.
Neither team was able to score in the fifth inning.
Laurens threatened in the sixth inning, but was unable to score. In the bottom of the inning, Ricci singled and Max Dunlap drove him in on a two out single.
In the top of the seventh, Laurens doubled and had a runner in scoring position before Young had to be pulled with two outs in the inning because of reaching his pitch count. Young went six and two thirds allowing three runs on six hits, while walking four and striking four out.
Cheske came in to get the final out sending Post 43 Juniors back to the state tournament to defend their state title from last year.
Fort Mill got six hits in the game with Dunlap, Carroll, Grogan, Coppola, Ricci, and Cheske all getting a base knock. Coppola, Dunlap and Grogan each had an RBI in the game.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
