The Fort Mill Post 43 Juniors improved to 2-0 on the young season with the help of an error in the ninth inning against Lancaster Post 31 to give them a 9-8 win.
A throwing error by Lancaster in the ninth inning allowed Brayden Hampton to score after he stole second base. Hampton stole and a throw from the Post 31 catcher sailed into centerfield. The Lancaster centerfielder then air mailed the ball to third where it went wide right allowing Hampton to score.
The game was a back-and-forth battle between the two teams as Fort Mill got 10 hits against Lancaster and used four pitchers with Preston Schmitz getting the win pitching a scoreless eighth and ninth inning.
“A lot of guys contributed tonight,” said Fort Mill Post 43 head coach Michael Lewis. “That is what Legion baseball is about. We have to have everyone contribute.”
Fort Mill was led at the plate by Mitchell Ladamus and Killion Bennett. Ladamus went 3-3 with an RBI and Bennett, who also got the start on the mound, went 1-4 with two RBI. Carter Cox, Bradyn Deaton and Hampton all drove in runs as well for Post 43 in the game.
Lancaster opened the game up scoring in the top of the first, but Fort Mill came back to get the lead in the bottom off two hits. Nearly every time Lancaster would score in the top of the inning, Post 43 would bounce back to regain the lead.
In the fifth, Post 31 plated two runs, but Fort Mill would score three runs on three hits. Lancaster did pull away some in the sixth inning scoring four runs off four hits and two Post 43 errors. Fort Mill did make four errors in the field, but Lancaster also committed a handful as well.
In the bottom of the seventh, Post 43 added two runs on two hits as Hampton would double which was key and Bennett would tie the game at 8-8 on a sacrifice.
In the top of the ninth, Hampton would walk which led to the fireworks and errors allowing Post 43 to get the win.
Bennett got the start on the mound and went five innings allowing three runs on three hits while walking two and striking out six, but didn’t figure into the decision as Lancaster rallied against Fort Mill’s relievers.
Post 43 Juniors will head to York Post 66 Thursday to try and improve to 3-0.
Senior team drops second straight to Lancaster
The Fort Mill Post 43 senior team dropped the season series to Lancaster Post 31 losing 4-2 in Lancaster at Harvey Eggleton Field. Fort Mill still has one more game against Lancaster later this season, but the best they can hope for is to take the last game out of their three-game series they are scheduled to play against Post 31.
Post 43 managed just four hits as Cooper Wilson, Luke Garabedian, Scott Young and Eli Craddock all got hits for Fort Mill. Garabedian and Young each drove in runs.
Greyson Wild got the loss on the mound allowing three runs on four hits over four innings, while striking out six.
Post 43 returns home to Catawba Ridge Thursday to host York Post 66. Fort Mill is 0-2 overall on the season.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
