WINGATE, N.C. – A two out walk off single in extra innings gave Union County Post 535 a win over Fort Mill Post 43 at Wingate University.
Union County won 7-6 in 11 innings over Post 43 dropping them to 6-8 on the season. The game was highly competitive and had a little bit of everything. Fort Mill had 11 walks, but also struck out 11 times. They gave up 11 hits and walked eight, but also struck out 17.
Fort Mill got a single from Jacob Pettit and a walk from Simon Fernandez in the top of the first inning, but left them both on to end their half of the inning.
Post 43 threatened again in the second with both Michael Rogers and Andrew Craddock getting two out walks, but neither were able to score for Fort Mill.
Cooper Mitchell got the start for Post 43. Mitchell struggled at times and walked a couple and hit a batter for Union County early in the game. That would lead to an RBI single from Post 535 to put them up 1-0 in the second inning.
Josh Patterson walked to open the third inning and Fernandez moved him to second on a single. Brayden Hampton moved them into scoring position and a passed ball scored Patterson for Fort Mill.
A walk in the bottom of the third to the second batter led to a pitching change for Post 43. Tucker Gandy replaced Mitchell, who went two and a third innings allowing one run on one hit, while walking three and striking out four. Union County would load the bases, but Gandy got out of it without allowing them to score.
Britton Nash got on with an error to lead off the top of the fourth inning. Nash stole second and Michael Rogers moved him to third on a bunt that hugged the foul line but remained fair.
Craddock drove in Nash on a sacrifice fly and TJ McCluney repeated the play and scored Rogers on a sacrifice fly as well to give Post 43 a 3-1 lead.
Alex Blanchette took over on the mound for Fort Mill in the bottom of the fourth. Post 535 got runners at the corners with no outs. Union County had back-to-back singles afterwards to tie the game. A Fort Mill error gave them a 4-3 lead before Post 43 could get out of the inning.
Fort Mill for a runner to third in the top part of the fifth inning, but couldn’t drive him in.
Ben Chuttey took the mound in the bottom half for Post 43 facing the minimum.
Rogers legged out an infield single in the top of the sixth inning for Fort Mill and made it to third on a stolen base and a fly out before tying the game at four on a passed ball.
Chuttey retook the mound in the sixth and hit the batter. He then made a diving play to get an out on the next batter and Rogers would throw a runner out at home to end the inning on a 7-2 double play preventing Union County from taking the lead. Chuttey continued to hold Post 535 at bay again facing the minimum in the bottom of the seventh inning forcing the game into extra innings.
Base running blunders cost Post 43 in both the eighth and ninth innings. However, in the top of the ninth, Pettit hit a two-run double scoring Patterson, who walked, and Fernandez, who singled, putting Fort Mill up 6-4.
In the bottom of the ninth, Union County finally got to Chuttey as they scored two runs on three hits, a walk, and a Post 43 error. Chuttey would be replaced with two outs in the ninth by Nash who shut the door on a bases loaded jam for Fort Mill.
Chuttey went four and two third innings allowing two runs on three hits, while walking two and striking out eight.
Nash stayed in the game to pitch two innings and allowed one run on three hits, while striking out three and walking one.
At the plate, Pettit went 3-5 with two RBIs. Rogers was 3-3 at the plate as well. Craddock and McCluney each had an RBI.
Fort Mill Post 43 Seniors return to action on Monday, July 7 at Camden Post 17.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
