The rains fell Monday, but the runs fell Tuesday as Fort Mill Post 43 junior team made history getting its first ever win in program history with a 13-1 rout over York Post 66.
The first-year program got nine hits as Carter Cox and Trevor Hanson combined to throw a one-hitter on the mound. Nine different players got hits for Post 43 and Paul Solari led with two RBI as he went 1-2 and scored two runs.
“I am happy,” said Post 43 juniors head coach Michael Lewis. “We did a lot of jobs tonight. Carter Cox, you can’t say enough about him. It is about as good of a start as we could ask for.”
Post 43 wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard. They opened the bottom of the first with Miles Baker and Aiden Cattarin both getting on base through walks. Solari then got the first ever hit for Post 43 juniors knocking in both Baker and Cattarin on a two-run single. Solari would eventually score on a sacrifice fly by Brennan Helms.
Fort Mill would add a run on an error in the second inning off a sacrifice by Cattarin. Post 43 would then erupt for six runs on four hits in the third inning as Avery Childs would drive in Solari, who reached on a walk. Killion Bennett would then double in Childs and he would score on an RBI from Lane Ross. Baker would then knock Deuce Homchik in as Post 43 batted around in the inning.
In the fourth, Post 43 added three more runs on four hits with Luke Keller getting a double, as Connor Griffin would drive Keller in after Drew Brink drove in Logan Sulli on a sacrifice in the inning. Chico Moreno would double in Daniel Shames, who reached on a walk to make it 13-1 for the home team.
On the mound, Cox faced the minimum through three innings. In the fourth, he gave up a lead-off single, which was followed by a couple of walks, but got out of the inning with one York runner being picked off first base and another one being caught trying to steal second base. Cox allowing just one run on one hit through four innings while walking two and striking out four.
Hanson finished the game working the fifth inning and faced the minimum of Post 66’s team in the frame while collecting a strike out in the process.
Post 43 will next take on York again at home Thursday in a doubleheader starting at 5:30 p.m. and playing two seven-inning games.
The Post 43 senior team was rained out Monday as well and will look to open the season Thursday on the road at Chesterfield for a doubleheader starting at 6 p.m.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
