The Fort Mill Post 43 Juniors took game one of their best of three second round series against the Greer Warhawks main junior team with a 10-run win.
Post 43 won 14-4 in six innings and now will travel to Greer for the second game of the series Tuesday, July 18.
Fort Mill had three big innings that they took advantage of Greer’s struggling pitching and errors where they were able to pull away. Post 43 scored five runs in the third inning to break a 2-2 tie with the help of four hits in the inning as well as three walks and a Greer error.
Post 43 opened the game scoring two runs in the bottom of the first to take an early lead. Those runs came on an error and a wild pitch by the Warhawks.
Greer bounced back to score two runs in the top of the third to tie the game off Post 43 starter Cole Stukitz, who got the win going three and two third innings, allowing four runs on five hits, while walking two and striking out six.
In the third inning, things really took off for Post 43 as Preston Schmitz opened the inning on a single to centerfield. A Greer error and a walk loaded the bases before two more walks put Post 43 up 4-2. Alex Smith then doubled to score both James Knoll and Zach Boutwell. Kade Balsinger then drove in Ryan Stukitz to give Fort Mill a 7-2 lead.
Greer tried to climb back in the game adding a couple runs in the fourth, but Schmitz came in and shut them down for the rest of the game pitching two and a third innings allowing no runs on no hits while striking out five without allowing a baserunner.
Post 43 added three runs in the fifth inning with the help of a triple from Balsinger scoring Smith and back-to-back singles from Brayden Hampton and Schmitz. Balsinger would drive in another run in the sixth inning as well as some walks and a couple wild pitches ended up enforcing the 10-run mercy rule.
Balsinger led Post 43 at the plate going 3-5 with three RBIs. Smith went 1-1 with two RBIs and Boutwell went 2-3 with an RBI. Schmits also went 2-4 with an RBI as well for Fort Mill as they scattered 11 hits.
If Fort Mill can win Tuesday in Greer, they will head to the state tournament Saturday in Conway. If they lose, game three will played at Catawba Ridge High Wednesday, July 19. Post 43 currently is 12-3 overall on the season.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
