CAMDEN – The Camden Post 17 Senior team took the season sweep over Fort Mill Post 43.
Fort Mill lost 8-6 and dropped to 0-3 on the season. Post 43 struggled with five errors, despite outhitting Camden.
Alex Blanchette had a two out single in the top of the first to give Post 43 an early base runner, but was unable to drive him home.
Camden took advantage of Fort Mill starter Grey Kneidel scoring two runs off of him in the bottom of the first.
Post 43 for a run in the top of the second inning. Cooper Diehl was hit by a pitch, followed by a single from James Knoll. Lawson Smith singled to drive in courtesy runner TJ McCluney to put Fort Mill on the board.
Things continue to look good for Fort Mill in the top of the third inning. A walk to Jackson Bendis and a single by Jack Shelnutt putter runners on. JT Leonhardt tied the game at two with a single, before Camden was able to get out of the inning.
Post 17 regained the lead in the bottom of the inning off a single and an error.
In the top of the fourth, James Carlin singled and Smith walked. Cooper Armstrong singled, but a base running error led to a second out for Fort Mill leading to runners in the corners instead of bases loaded.
Camden continued to tack on runs adding their fifth of the game in the bottom of the fourth.
A single by Blanchette and a two base error allowed him to reach third in the top of the fifth inning. He would go on and score on a passed ball to cut into Camden’s lead.
Fort Mill added a run off a Knoll single to score McCluney pulling them to within one at 5-4.
Despite the rally, Post 17 pulled away in the bottom of the inning scoring two more runs. Like Camden, Post 43 kept chipping away. Smith reached base on an error and Armstrong singled. A second Camden error of the inning scored two runs as Fort Mill again pulled within one.
McCluney came in to pitch in the bottom of the sixth inning. Kneidel went five innings allowing seven runs on seven hits, while walking two and striking out two. Camden scored another run in the inning to go up 8-6.
In the top of the seventh, Leonhardt walked to get things started for Post 43, but that would be the only base runner Fort Mill got in the inning.
Blanchette, Knoll, and Armstrong each had two hits for Fort Mill. Post 43 will travel to Westside High School on Friday, June 12 to play Anderson Post 14 in non-league action.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
