CHAPIN – For the first time in at least 20 years, two pitchers for Fort Mill Post 43 combined to throw a no-hitter in a 5-0 win over Chapin/Newberry Post 193/24.
Magdiel Cotto and Evan VandenBosch combined for the no-hitter for Fort Mill as they improved to 8-2 on the season with the win. Cotto went five innings and allowed just three base runners, while walking two and striking out 11. One Chapin/Newberry batter got on base in the fifth inning off an error. VandenBosch worked the sixth inning allowing a walk facing the minimum three batters.
In the sixth inning, the skies opened up around Chapin’s Melvin Park and the rain poured down ending the game after six innings. Chapin/Newberry had just four base runners in the game with three of them reaching by walks and one by an error.
“Tonight, was a great test for us going on the road and facing a good team,” said Post 43 head coach Tom Skula. “We were down 10 players tonight for various reasons, but I was thrilled to see other guys step up and take advantage of their opportunities. Mag(diel) really struggled in the first inning trying to figure out the umpires’ strike zone. He was able to bear down and cruise after the first inning. He was truly the definition of the word dominant. We have had some great pitchers come through this program during my tenure including players that got drafted. This is my 12th overall year with this program and tonight was the best pitching performance I have ever seen. It was really remarkable! I have to give Evan VandenBosch credit as well. Coming into a game with a no-hitter on the line and rain starting to come down wasn’t the easiest of circumstances. Honestly, I don’t think any of that bothered him and he was able to throw strikes and cruise through his inning of work.”
Fort Mill didn’t play particularly well offensively, but had one big inning in the fifth scoring all five of their runs.
Post 43 opened the game with the first two batters – Patrick Matthews and Xavier Cumbee – getting hits, but couldn’t score in the first inning. Fort Mill didn’t get another hit until the fifth inning, despite leaving four men on base in the second through fourth innings.
In the fifth, Cumbee opened the inning getting hit by a pitch. He stole second and then made it to third on a passed ball. Kolby Crepeau walked, as did Chase Dougherty to load the bases. Cumbee scored on another passed ball to give Fort Mill their first run of the game.
A.J. Jaworowski got hit by a pitch to score to again load the bases before an RBI single from Brady Stone and a walk to Nic Curtis drove in two more runs for Post 43. Kyle Raynor then hit a two run single batting in the ninth spot to make it 5-0 for Fort Mill.
“Offensively, we didn’t start well either,” Skula said. “We had the bases loaded in the first inning with a chance to capitalize and have the momentum on our side. We just didn’t get the job done and that can’t happen moving forward into the playoffs. We have to do the little things correctly or that could be the difference between losing and winning a ball game. On the bright side, we didn’t let that get into our heads and become a letdown. We continued to grind and find ways to get on base. Kyle had a great at bat in the fifth inning for us tonight. He capped off the huge inning by going with the pitch on the outside part of the plate and hitting it the opposite way for a two run RBI.”
The game against Chapin/Newberry wasn’t originally on the schedule, but took the place of Post 43’s game against defending state champion Greer, which got rained out at Segra Park on Tuesday. The game against Greer will not be made up.
Fort Mill is scheduled to finish out league play with a game against Lancaster Post 31 Friday. Post 43 is 6-1 in the league, while Lancaster is 1-6. Fort Mill clinched the league earlier in the week sweeping a doubleheader against Rock Hill Post 34.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
