YORK – The Fort Mill Post 43 Juniors opened their state title defense doubling up York Post 66 in their season opener.
After winning five games in five days to end last season and win the 2025 state championship, the Post 43 Juniors beat York 8-4 to open the 2026 season.
Post 43 started strong with Brandon Dobson doubling and Blake Chatman reaching on a walk. Brayden Grogan was hit by a pitch, before Max Dunlap was walked to score the first run of the game.
Post 43 starter Carter Czapla got the start on the mound and allowed one hit in the bottom of the first. Czapla continued to cruise in the second inning surrendering one more hit, but keeping Post 66 from scoring.
Dobson starred the third inning trying to stretch a double into a triple before getting thrown out. Ashton Mayo would single, but Post 43 was unable to add to their lead.
York got a runner on in the bottom of the third inning off an error, but Post 43 was able to get out of the inning.
Dunlap led the top of the fourth inning off with a single and then stole second. Matthew Scott walked putting runners on the corners after another Dunlap stolen base. Czapla would sacrifice in Dunlap and Steven Coppola walked again putting runners on the corners.
Post 43 scored two more runs as Eli Cheske drove in a run scoring Scott and Coppola would score in an error to put Fort Mill up 4-0.
Czapla came out of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning and was replaced by Mayo. Czapla went three innings allowing just two hits and striking out two without allowing a walk.
In the fifth inning, Grogan started things with a one out solo home run. Dunlap walked and stole second before Scott moved him over to third. However, that is where he was left to end the inning.
Cheske came in to pitch in the sixth inning replacing Mayo, who went two innings and struck out six, while walking one. An error by Fort Mill allowed a York base runner before a Post 66 hit put runners on the corners. A walk and a single led to York scoring three runs with one out. Post 66 would score another run on a passed ball to make a game out of it at 5-4, before Fort Mill could get out of the inning.
Mayo started the seventh inning off with a single for Post 43. Roman Ricci walked and Mayo scored on a single by Dunlap. Fort Mill scored two more runs on a bunt single by James Gandolfi as a throwing error resulted in the runs to put them up 8-4.
Dunlap would come in to pitch the seventh inning and strikeout the side to close the game. Dunlap led at the plate going 2-2 with two RBI. Dobson and Mayo also had two hits as well in the game.
The Post 43 Juniors will travel to Rock Hill Post 34 on Wednesday, June 3.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
