The 2025 American Legion baseball season opened with a thrashing by Fort Mill Post 43.
Fort Mill beat Winnsboro Post 16 12-0 in five innings in both teams’ season opener.
Post 43 started well offensively as Alex Blanchette reached on an error in the bottom of the first. Two batters later, Jacob Pettit drove him in on an RBI single to put Fort Mill up 1-0.
Winnsboro threatened in the top of the second inning putting two runners on with two outs. However, Post 43 starter Ben Chuttey worked his way out of the situation.
Michael Rogers hit a two out double in the second for Fort Mill, but Post 43 left him stranded to end the inning.
Back-to-back walks in the top of the third again put runners on for Winnsboro. Chuttey again got the defensive help he needed to get out of the jam.
Blanchette singled to start the bottom of the third inning. Josh Patterson singled and Britton Nash drove them both in. Anthony Marano singled in Patterson and Rogers doubled in both Marano and courtesy runner Justin Brink to make it 6-0 in Post 43’s favor.
Zach Young replaced Chuttey in the fourth and was just as strong. Chuttey went three innings allowing one hit, walking three and striking out three.
Post 43 added three more to their score in the bottom half of the inning. Blanchette singled to start and Patterson walked. Jacob Pettit drove Blanchette in on a single and a fielder’s choice scored another run. Alex Smith drove in Marano on a single to make it 9-0.
Pettit and Post 43 closed the game out with a three-run home run in the fifth inning after Cooper Mitchell and James Knoll singled to open the inning.
Pettit went 3-4 with five RBIs. Rogers and Blanchette each went 2-3 as Fort Mill had 13 hits in the game. Young finished the game going two innings on the mound and allowing one hit.
Fort Mill will play Union County Post 535 on Tuesday, June 3 with a Junior game played at 5 p.m. against York Post 66.
June 2 Roundup
The Fort Mill Post 43 Juniors opened their season as well with a 7-0 win over York Post 66 on the road. Fort Mill was led by Carter Czapla on the mound as he went three innings allowing one hit, while walking two and striking out two. Jack Provenzano went 1-4 and both Eli Wilson and Matt Scott each 1-3.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
