HARTSVILLE – Fort Mill Poat 43 dropped their first game of the North Carolina/South Carolina Challenge at Jimmy White Park.
Wayne County (NC) Post 11 edged Fort Mill 7-6 dropping Post 43 to 5-6 on the season on Saturday, June 28.
Wayne County started as hot as the noon day sun scoring three runs in the first inning to lead 3-0. They added another run in the second, but then Fort Mill answered in the bottom of the second inning.
Alex Blanchette, Simon Fernandez, and Justin Brink all singled to open things up in the second inning, as Brink scored Blanchette with an RBI single. James Knoll then walked, and Cole Gutmann grounded into a fielder’s choice scoring Brink. Josh Patterson doubled in Knoll. Patterson eventually scored on an error to give Post 43 a 5-4 lead.
Wayne County tied the game at five in the top of the third. Fort Mill starter Tucker Gandy settled down in the fourth inning keeping Wayne County from scoring in the fourth inning.
In the fifth inning, Wayne County got two runners on base with one out before a pitching change for Fort Mill. Post 43’s TJ McCluney replaced Gandy, who went four and a third innings allowing seven runs on eight hits. He walked two and struck out two.
Both of those runners credited to Gandy scored once McCluney came in the game as Wayne County took a 7-5 lead.
Fort Mill threatened in the bottom of the fifth with getting two runners in scoring position, but couldn’t get them in. Blanchette walked and Fernandez doubled, before Wayne County made a pitching change.
Gutmann took the mound in the sixth inning for Post 43. McCluney went two third innings allowing a hit and walking one.
Fort Mill closed the gap in the bottom of the sixth. Knoll doubled and Pettit singled him in to pull within one.
Fernandez and Pettit each went 2-4 at the plate. Brink went 1-4 with an RBI. Patterson, Pettit, and Gutmann each had RBIs as well.
Post 43 plays a doubleheader on Sunday, June 29 back at Jimmy White Park against Garner and Wilmington.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
