KANNAPOLIS – After about a week off, the Fort Mill Post 43 team bounced back into action with a win over Concord Post 51 Friday night on the road.
Fort Mill Post 43 won 5-0 off the back of strong pitching from River Joye and Sam Czyz. The two pitchers combined to allow four hits in the shutout as Fort Mill improved to 2-1 on the season.
Joye got the start for Post 43 on the mound and was strong in the early going for Fort Mill giving up just a single in the first couple innings.
In the top of the third inning, Cooper Zohner broke a scoreless tie with a solo home run for Post 43 to get them on the board.
Fort Mill added two more runs in the fourth inning. Nick Chuttey started things off with a two out single.
Back-to-back errors by Concord led to another run by Post 43. A delayed steal led to James Knoll scoring after reaching earlier on a walk.
In the bottom of the fourth, Concord got a runner on by a Fort Mill error, but he was left stranded at third to end the inning.
Joye went four innings off one hit ball and didn’t walk anyone, while striking out five. He was replaced in the fifth inning by Czyz.
In the sixth inning, consecutive walks to Zach Young and Chuttey led to two more runs by Post 43. Alex Smith would reach on a fielder’s choice. An error by the Concord catcher on a throw down to second base would score both Young and Smith to add to Fort Mill’s lead.
Concord loaded the bases in the sixth inning off an error and a couple singles, but Czyz was able to work out of the jam without allowing a run. He was able to finish the game in the seventh inning despite giving up a single and a walk.
Czyz went three innings allowing three hits and one walk, while striking out five Concord batters.
At the plate, Zohner would go 1-4 with the home run as Fort Mill managed just four hits in the game. Chuttey, Simon Fernandez and Jonathan Barschow would each get hits as well for Post 43.
Post 43 is back in action against Concord Post 51 with their home opener at 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 8 at Fort Mill High School.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
