KERSHAW – The Fort Mill Post 43 Juniors opened their season with an 18-3 win over Kershaw Post 31.
Post 43 used an 11 run fourth inning to really pull away from Post 31 as Fort Mill got 12 hits in the game.
Post 43 got off to a hot start scoring two runs in the top of the first inning off three hits. Cooper Diehl led the game off with a single. Alex Smith also singled and then Ryan Stukitz would single scoring them both to put Post 43 ahead.
Post 43 went through the line up by the time the second inning rolled around.
Defensively, Fort Mill was strong in the first inning despite giving up a couple of hits. Post 43 starter Grey Kneidel settled in more in the second inning and was able to face the minimum in the inning.
Kneidel would leave after two innings allowing no runs on two hits, while striking out three and not allowing a walk.
In the third inning, Post 43’s Zach Young started the inning off with a single up the middle. Smith then walked and Carson Krueger drove in Young extending Fort Mill’s lead. Michael Caropreso added a single scoring Smith as Post 43 went up 4-0.
Carter Czapla would take the mound in the third inning for Post 43. Czapla gave up two walks in the inning, but the Post 31 Eagles were unable to score leaving both runners stranded.
In the fourth inning, Lawson Smith would walk and Diehl would be hit by a pitch. An error would score Smith and Diehl would score on a wild pitch, all with no outs.
After a pitching change, Stukitz got an RBI off a bases loaded walk scoring Young. Cole Stukitz was then hit by a pitch allowing another run for Post 43. Caropreso walked with the bases loaded, and then Alex Downes would drive in a run off a single after the fifth walk of the inning by the Post 31 Eagles.
Post 43 would score a run on another error and Diehl would single in the eighth run of the inning.
Fort Mill would add three more runs to go up 15-0 as Post 43 put up 11 runs in the inning.
The Post 31 Eagles picked up two runs off a couple of singles as Post 43 put in their third pitcher of the game in Jhett Nichols.
Fort Mill added three more runs on five hits in the fifth inning. For the game, Diehl went 3-4 with two RBIs and Caropreso would get two RBIs I going 2-3. Young went 2-4 with three RBIs, as Ryan Stukitz would also have a three RBI outing going 1-2.
Zach Boutwell came in the last inning for Post 43. Post 31 would pick up one run off a single and Fort Mill error. Boutwell ended up getting three strikeouts to end the inning and the game.
Post 43 will play Lancaster Post 31 Juniors to open their home schedule June 4 at Nation Ford High School.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
