Both the Fort Mill Post 43 senior and junior teams swept a pair of doubleheaders to keep their hot start going Thursday night.
The juniors beat York Post 66 24-5 and 10-5 to improve to 3-0 on the season, while the senior team opened their season on the road sweeping Chesterfield Post 74 12-1 and 7-3.
Post 43 juniors swept the season series against York and outscored them 47-11 in the three-game series. In game one of the doubleheader Thursday evening at Nation Ford, Post 43 juniors dominated the game scoring in every inning except the first and did fall behind 1-0 after that inning. After that first inning hiccup, Post 43 would take a 12-5 lead into the sixth inning and blow the game open scoring 12 runs in the sixth inning.
Post 43 collected 15 hits in the first game and was led at the plate by several hitters as 11 different players collected at least one hit. Paul Solari, Brennan Helms, Deuce Homchik and Logan Sulli all had two hits. Solari and Sulli both had three RBI in the first game. Homchik, Jackson Childs and Avery Childs each had two RBI as well.
“Brennan, Deuce and Paul all had great games,” said Fort Mill Post 43 juniors head coach Michael Lewis. “Deuce had a phenomenal day.”
Landon Wolf got the win on the mound for Post 43 in game one going two and a third innings allowing four runs on six hits while striking out two and walking two. Trevor Hanson pitched three and two third innings allowing one run on just two hits and striking out two.
In game two, York was more competitive as they went up 3-0 after two and a half innings, but Post 43 finally got their bats warmed up again and scored four runs in the third inning and five runs in the fourth inning to go up 9-3.
Homchik again led at the plate going 2-4 with two RBI. Avery Childs also went 2-4 and Solari went 1-3 with two RBI. Killion Bennett went 1-2 with two RBI as well.
Bennett also got the win on the mound going four innings and allowing three runs on four hits, while striking out seven and walking one.
York also struggled in the field as well aiding Post 43 as they made five errors in the first game and four errors in the second game.
The juniors are back in action Monday on the road at Chester and return home to face Chester June 15.
Seniors open with sweep
In game one of the senior’s doubleheader, Fort Mill scored early and held Chesterfield to just two hits. Post 43 scored three in the first inning and three in the second inning and then added six runs in the fourth inning to blow the game open.
Justin Lehman went 2-4 at the plate and knocked in five runs while Harrison Wilson and Chase Dougherty each went 1-3 with two RBI as well. Brayden Franse pitched three innings and allowed just one run on a hit, while striking out two. Dusty Sanderlin pitched two innings of relief and allowed a hit, while striking out three.
In game two, Post 43 went up 5-0 after three innings and had three players get two hits each in Gabe Simmons, Scott Young and Trace White. Young also drove in two runs, and Lehman drove in two runs going 2-3 as well.
Jacob Boyna pitched four innings and allowed just one hit while striking out four to get the win.
“I couldn’t have been happier to start off the season with two victories against a good team that had very talented pitchers,” said Post 43 senior head coach Tom Skula. “I was concerned going into tonight’s series with all the rainouts we had this week wondering if guys would be in rhythm. Our pitchers really threw the ball well tonight and pounded the zone.
“It was a coaching staff’s dream to see every single player on roster contribute tonight and have success. It’s still early in the season but I believe this team has great potential to do something special this season.”
Fort Mill is now 2-0 and will open a three-game series next Monday at home against Chester.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
