SUMTER – Beating your biggest rival three times in one season is hard enough, but eliminating them from a state championship tournament takes it to another level.
That is exactly what Fort Mill Post 43 Seniors did in beating Rock Hill 4-1 in the American Legion Senior state tournament at Riley Park to move onto championship Sunday where they will face Florence Post 1 needing to sweep a doubleheader to win a state title.
That was the fourth time this season that Fort Mill beat Rock Hill Post 34 after sweeping the season series during the regular season. The win was head coach Tom Skula’s 200th career win.
Post 34 got an early base runner on with a hit batter. A Fort Mill error later in the inning scored a run to put Rock Hill up 1-0 after the top half of the first.
Jack Shelnutt walked and then stole second. That would be the only base runner Post 43 got in the inning.
Rock Hill got their first hit with two outs in the top of the second inning on an infield chopper. A walk put two on, but Fort Mill got the third out at home on a throw from right field to end the inning.
James Knoll walked to start the bottom of the second inning and James Carlin singled to put two runners on. Knoll scored on an error and Carlin scored on a sacrifice fly by TJ McCluney to give Post 43 the lead. A second error scored Leonhardt putting Post 43 ahead 3-1.
Fort Mill starter Caden Stevens looked strong through four innings allowing just two hits.
Jackson Carroll doubled to start the bottom of the inning. That would be the only base runner Post 43 got in their half of the inning.
Rock Hill started the top of the fifth off with a walk. A bunt single put two runners on base with no outs for Post 34. A one out double scored a run for Rock Hill, but a pine tar challenge was issued from Fort Mill taking the run off the board and deflating a Rock Hill rally.
Cooper Armstrong singled to start the bottom of the fifth. Yet again, the offense stalled for Post 43.
In the sixth inning, Stevens got in some trouble, but was able to battle back to get out of the jam.
The bottom half saw Knoll reach on an error and eventually scored on Rock Hill’s second error of the inning giving Fort Mill some insurance.
Stevens came out in the seventh to shutdown Rock Hill. He pitched a complete game allowing one run on four hits while walking two and striking out six.
Fort Mill only had three hits in the game coming from Armstrong, Carroll and Carlin. Post 43 improved to 17-5 on the season.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
