The Fort Mill Post 43 Juniors bounced back with a convincing game three win to take the series against Greer Post 115.
Post 43 won game three 15-5 over Greer with the help of an eight-run third inning improving to 12-3 on the season. Fort Mill will now host Richland Post 215 in the second round starting with game one on Monday, July 14 at Fort Mill High.
After about a 50-minute lighting delay game three finally started, but neither team was able to score in the first inning despite both teams getting base runners. Michael Caropreso singled and Eli Wilson walked, but Fort Mill was unable to drive them in.
Post 43 got on the board in the second inning. Starting pitcher Matthew Scott singled and courtesy runner Devon Pascarella scored on a single by Declan Errett. Jack Provenzano singled in Errett before a walk to Caropreso loaded the bases for Fort Mill, but that was all Post 43 could do early on.
Greer threatened in the top of the third inning walking to load the bases, before Scott was replaced on the mound by Fox Thorpe. Walks continued to be an issue as three more allowed three runs for Greer, two by Thorpe. Thorpe was replaced by Zach Young who got Fort Mill out of the inning with Post 115 holding a two-run lead.
Post 43 tied things up in the third and surged ahead scoring eight runs.
Wilson walked and Brayden Grogan doubled to score Wilson. Young tripled to drive in courtesy runner Eli Cheske. Provenzano reached on an error putting Fort Mill back in front at 5-4. Wild pitches scored Connor Fowler and Blake Chatman. Wilson singled to drive in Provenzano and Grogan singled to score both Caropreso and Wilson giving Post 43 a 10-4 lead.
In the fifth inning, Greer picked up a run on their first hit of the game.
The bottom half of the fifth inning saw Fort Mill come out strong with singles by Cheske and Caropreso. An error loaded the bases and Grogan doubled to clear the bases. An error and a fielder’s choice scored two more runs for Post 43 to enforce the mercy rule. Grogan led at the plate going 3-4 with six RBIs. Caropreso was 2-2 as well.
On the mound, Young got the win going two and a third innings allowing one run on one hit, while striking out five without giving up a walk.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
