SUMTER – The chance to repeat as state champions for the Fort Mill Post 43 Juniors ended on Bobby Richardson Field at Riley Park at the hands of host team Sumter Post 15.
Playing on a partial turf field in 100-degree heat, Sumter beat Post 43 by a score of 11-6 to end their season as they fell in the American Legion Junior State Tournament.
Despite playing host team Sumter in their home ballpark, Fort Mill was listed as the home team in the game as a higher seed. Sumter threatened early in the first inning, but starter Ashton Mayo was able to work out of the jam without allowing a run.
Max Dunlap led things off for Fort Mill and reached on an error in the bottom of the first, but that was all the base runners they could get in the inning.
In the second, two walks and sacrifice bunt put runners at the corners for Sumter. A delayed steal scored a run for Post 15. Sumter picked up another run on another steal of home before Fort Mill got out of the inning.
In the bottom of the second, two walks and a hit batter loaded the bases for Fort Mill with only one out. Steven Coppola was hit by a pitch scoring courtesy runner Reid Levesque. Matthew Scott scored on a wild pitch to tie the game.
In the third inning, Sumter threatened getting two on base, but Mayo was able again to work out of some trouble.
A single, walk and hit batter led to a bases clearing triple to put Sumter up 5-2 before a pitching change for Post 43 in the top of the fourth inning. Dunlap would come in to pitch for Mayo, who went three and a third allowing five runs on three hits, while walking six and striking out five. A single scored two more runs to put Sumter up 7-2 before Fort Mill could get out of the inning.
In the bottom of the fourth, Scott walked and Carter Czapla was hit by a pitch for Post 43. Dunlap then hit a three-run home run to put Fort Mill back in the game at 7-5 with two outs in the inning.
Dunlap continued to look strong in the top of the fifth allowing just one base runner. In the bottom of the inning, Eli Cheske singled and would eventually score on a single by Scott pulling Fort Mill to within one.
Sumter got a runner to third off a single and a walk put runners on the corners. However, Dunlap continued to battle back to hold them off in the top of the sixth.
Dunlap then walked in the bottom of the sixth inning and Coppola would get hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners with two outs. However, a groundout ended the chance for Fort Mill to get another run to tie the game.
Sumter got off to a good start in the top of the seventh with a double and then a walk to start. An infield bunt loaded the bases with no outs. A walk scored a run for Post 15 and kept the bases loaded before Fort Mill went to the bullpen for Coppola. Dunlap went three innings and allowed five runs on six hits, while walking four and striking out four. Consecutive singles added to Sumter’s lead after the pitching change.
Fort Mill got a couple of runners on in the bottom of the seventh, but couldn’t complete the rally ending their season. Post 43 was led by Dunlap at the plate going 1-3 with three RBI as Fort Mill only had five hits in the game.
Post 43 ended the season at 12-6 overall with a share of the Piedmont League title and a final ranking of sixth in the state.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
