A strong pitching performance and timely hitting allowed the Fort Mill Post 43 Seniors to get back in the win column.
Post 43 beat Lancaster Post 31 6-2 to improve to 7-9 on the season and 5-4 in League IV play with the July 8 win.
Lancaster loaded the bases in the top of the first inning off three walks by Post 43 starter Cooper Mitchell. However, they came up empty as Fort Mill regrouped and got out of the inning without any damage done.
In the bottom of the second, Simon Fernandez led the charge off for Fort Mill with a single. Alex Blanchette walked and Britton Nash drove in courtesy runner TJ McCluney to give Post 43 a 1-0 lead.
In the third inning, Lancaster equalized the game as Lawson Polson walked and then scored on a Fort Mill error. Post 31 again threatened in the fourth inning, but Fort Mill was able to keep them from scoring.
Michael Rogers led the fourth inning off with a single to left field for Post 43. He scored on a fielder’s choice by Nash. Jacob Pettit and Josh Patterson both singled to extend the inning and put up Fort Mill 4-1, scoring both Nash and Pettit.
Post 31 got a run back in the fifth inning off two singles and a sacrifice fly.
Fort Mill kept the pressure on Lancaster scoring two runs in the bottom half. James Knoll and Fernandez both led the inning off with singles. Rogers singled as well to load the bases, before Nash drove in both Fernandez and Rogers to put Post 43 up 6-2.
Kody Romero took the mound for Fort Mill in the sixth inning. Mitchell left with a four-run lead as he went five innings allowing two runs on three hits, while striking out four and walking four. Romero was just as strong working the final two innings allowing a hit and striking out two.
At the plate, Nash went 2-3 with four RBIs. Patterson went 2-4 with an RBI and Fernandez went 2-4 as well. Pettit went 1-4 with an RBI as well.
Post 43 is scheduled to play at Rock Hill on Thursday, July 10.
July 8 Roundup
The Fort Mill Post 43 Juniors fell 4-3 in game two of their best of three series against Greer Post 115 and will now have to play Greer at Fort Mill High on July 9. The loss dropped Fort Mill to 11-3 overall.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
