GREER – The Fort Mill Post 43 juniors advanced to the second round of the playoffs sweeping one of two Greer Warhawks teams 2-0 in the best of three series.
Fort Mill won game two 16-8 Tuesday at Stevens Field. They will now play the other Greer junior team next week.
Post 43 juniors wasted no time getting on the board scoring eight runs in the first inning.
Fort Mill was able to get those runs off four hits in the inning and being aggressive on the base paths. Alex Smith, Kade Balsinger and James Knoll all drove in two runs in the first inning.
Greer didn’t go quietly hitting a solo home run on the first pitch they saw in the bottom of the first inning. The Warhawks would add another run to cut the Fort Mill lead to six.
Greer kept chipping away in the second inning scoring another run on a single after a couple walks from
Post 43 starter Zach Young. A double cut the lead in half for Greer with just one out in the second inning.
Fort Mill was able to get out of the inning with the help of left fielder Cole Stukitz gunning down a runner at home.
Post 43 again started making some moves in the top of the third inning scoring a run with the help of a walk and a two-run single by Justin Brink to make it 11-5.
Brayden Plyler came in the game in the bottom of the third for Post 43 after a walk and a single to open the bottom of the inning. Greer would add two runs in the inning on three hits in the inning to keep within striking distance.
In the fifth inning, Fort Mill’s Gavin Oberg doubled to score Brink and Knoll adding to the Post 43 total. A couple passed balls added two more runs for Fort Mill.
Smith and Obert would go 2-3 at the plate with two RBIs and Brink would go 2-4 with two RBIs as well.
Post 43 juniors improved to 11-3 overall on the season and will host game one in the second round Monday, July 17.
Seniors fall to Inman
The Post 43 senior team fell to Inman Post 45 13-3 and will now play in an elimination game at home Wednesday against Winnsboro, which eliminated Buffalo 7-4.
Fort Mill gave up 17 hits in the loss and fell to 11-7 on the season.
Inman had two big innings where they scored five runs each. Post 43 managed just six hits with Eli Craddock leading the way going 2-3 at the plate. Scott Young went 1-3 with an RBI and Jonathan Barschow went 1-1 with an RBI. The elimination game at Fort Mill High starts at 7 p.m.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
