The Fort Mill Post 43 Seniors swept Rock Hill Post 34 in dramatic fashion winning in extra innings for the second time in three games.
Fort Mill won 4-3 in eight innings to take a 3-0 sweep over Rock Hill. Post 43 improved to 9-4 overall and is 2.5 games ahead in second place over Rock Hill.
Both Grey Kneidel and Cooper Armstrong walked in the bottom of the eighth. Kneidel would score from second after a Rock Hill error giving Post 43 the win.
Rock Hill started hitting the ball early in the first inning and got runners on the corners. Fort Mill starter Anthony Marano was able to get out of the jam without allowing a run.
In the bottom of the first, Jack Shelnutt reached on an error and Alex Blanchette singled. Shelnutt would steal third and then score on a sacrifice by Cooper Diehl. Lawson Smith singled in Blanchette to make it 2-0 before Post 34 was able to get out of the inning.
Fort Mill threatened in the second inning getting two on, but couldn’t scratch a run.
Rock Hill came back to tie the game at two off a walk and two base hits.
In the third inning, Diehl singled to open the inning. However, Post 34 got a double play to help them get out of the inning without surrendering a run.
Rock Hill continued to put pressure on Fort Mill, but Marano stayed in command of his pitches and despite allowing some hits, didn’t allow a run in the top of the fourth.
In the bottom of the fourth, Ethan Solnick singled and then scored on an infield single by Armstrong to give Post 43 a 3-2 lead.
Emerson Rhodes took the mound for Fort Mill in the top of the fifth inning. The final line on Marano was four innings pitched giving up two runs on four hits while walking two and striking two out.
Rhodes faced the minimum in the fifth and Fort Mill was unable to score despite Blanchette drawing a walk.
Rock Hill rallied to tie the game in the top of the sixth inning. A single and a walk led to a balk by Rhodes which scored the tying run.
In the top of the seventh, a walk and single put a runner on third with two outs. Rhodes rebounded to get out of the inning without allowing a run.
Post 43 put two on in the bottom is the seventh inning, but was unable to close the game out sending it to extra innings.
In the eighth inning, Caden Stevens came in for Fort Mill. Rhodes went three innings allowing one run on two hits, while walking two and striking out four. Stevens faced the minimum in the eighth and struck out one batter picking up the win in the process.
Armstrong went 2-4 with an RBI to lead Fort Mill at the plate. Diehl and Smith each had an RBI as well. Fort Mill opens a three-game series next week at York Post 66 on Monday, July 6.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
