HARTSVILLE – The Fort Mill Post 43 Seniors ended the North Carolina/South Carolina Challenge on a high note finishing a doubleheader on a winning note.
Post 43 opened the doubleheader on Sunday, June 29 with a 10-8 loss to Wilmington, but came back to win game two against Garner 12-2 to finish the day. Post 43 Seniors are now 6-7 overall.
In game one against Wilmington, both teams had 10 hits each, but Wilmington scored two runs in the top of the seventh off a two-run home run to grab the advantage for the win.
The game went back and forth with Fort Mill scoring four runs in the bottom of the first inning. TJ McCluney singled to start things and Josh Patterson walked. Jacob Pettit walked as well, before Simon Fernandez singled to drive in Post 43’s first run. Brayden Hampton and Andrew Craddock both walked, before Alex Blanchette doubled scoring courtesy runner Justin Brink and Craddock.
Wilmington scored two runs in the third and two runs in the fourth to tie the game. They then went ahead 8-4 in the top of the fifth, before Post 43 rallied to tie the game at eight with a four-run fifth inning.
In the fifth, Patterson started their part of the inning off with a double, followed by a single from Pettit and a double by Fernandez scoring Patterson. Fernandez scored on an error before Cooper Mitchell had a sacrifice fly to score Michael Rogers, who singled earlier in the inning.
In the top of the seventh, Wilmington hit a home run to take the lead for good. Post 43 used four pitchers with Ben Chuttey starting and going three innings allowing two runs on four hits in the no-decision. Rogers would get the loss going two and two thirds allowing two runs on one hit, while striking out one.
At the plate, Blanchette and Fernandez each had two hits. Blanchette had three RBIs and Fernandez had two RBIs.
In game two, Post 43 was a lot more competitive scoring all 12 runs in the first three innings. In the bottom of the first, Patterson and Fernandez led things off with a single, before Pettit drove in Patterson with a single of his own. A fielder’s choice by Rogers added to Fort Mill’s total and Britton Nash drove in a run on a ground out.
Garner scored two runs in the top of the second, but Fort Mill added five more runs in the bottom half of the inning to go up 8-2. Mitchell and McCluney opened the bottom of the inning with walks, before a two-run single by Patterson. Fernandez walked and Hampton was hit by a pitch, before Nash hit a two-run single to push the Post 43 score higher.
In the third inning, Fort Mill added four more runs. McCluney, Patterson, and Fernandez all walked to load the bases with no outs. Petitt would score one on a ground out, and Hampton walked. Nash hit a two-run single, before another walk to Craddock loaded the bases for a third time in the inning. Mitchell got hit by a pitch to drive in a 12th run for Post 43.
Nash led at the plate for Fort Mill as he went 2-3 with five RBIs. Pettit and Patterson each had two RBIs.
On the mound, Blanchette got the win going three and a third innings allowing two runs on seven hits, while striking out three without allowing a walk.
Post 43 Seniors return to action on Wednesday, July 2 hosting Camden Post 17 in league play.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
