CONCORD – A rally wasn’t enough for Fort Mill Post 43 Seniors as they dropped their second game of the year Wednesday night falling 10-8 to Kannapolis Post 115 at Northwest Cabarrus High School.
Fort Mill, now 9-2 overall, struggled in the field making four errors and also struggled off the mound as the Kannapolis hitters got to Post 43 starter Brayden Kurtz early in the game. Kurtz lasted two and a third innings as he allowed nine runs on seven hits, while walking two and striking two out.
Kannapolis got hot early and never let up as they opened their half of the first inning and scored three runs. Post 43 added a run in the second inning with the help of a couple of errors from Kannapolis. The runs kept Fort Mill close, but they struggled to stay with the home team.
“We didn’t get the end result we wanted, but I am happy with the way we tried to claw back into the game,” said Post 43 head coach Tom Skula. “I can’t think Chapin/Newberry, Concord and Kannapolis enough for agreeing to play us this week in the middle of their conference schedule. We wanted to stay in rhythm as a team and get better this week, and I believe we achieved both of those.”
Post 115 would add two runs in the second and Fort Mill bounced back with two of their own in the top of the third as Connor Rasmussen led the inning off with a double and would be knocked in by Scott Young. Young would go 2-4 in the game with an RBI as he would drive in Rasmussen. Chase Dougherty and Aaron Pendergast each would collect back-to-back singles in the third as part of a two-hit night, as Keenan Sumner would drive in Keith Feeley, pinch running for Young, on a sacrifice to make it 5-3.
However, just as Fort Mill pulled within striking distance, Kannapolis would increase their lead. Post 115 scored five runs in the bottom of the third to go up 10-3.
After Kurtz was removed, Jacob Boyna came in and pitched two and two third innings allowing just one run on one hit, while striking out three.
Fort Mill clawed their way back into the game in the fifth inning, posting a five-run inning as well. Post 43 batted around as Harrison Wilson got his lone hit of the game to start the inning with a single. Young would double and Pendergast would drive in Wilson to get the scoring started. Sumner would drive in Feeley and Dusty Sanderlin would hit a double to put two runners on. Nic Curtis then came up with a huge three-run home run that hit off the right field foul pole to make it 10-8 and put Post 43 back in the game.
“It has been exciting to watch Nic improve as a baseball player these last two years,” Skula said. “He continues to be one of our vocal leaders and has a knack for coming through in clutch spots for us.”
The five run, five hit fifth inning was good, but it wasn’t enough as Post 43 would be held hitless in the next two innings and come up short.
Post 43 has its toughest week ahead as they are scheduled to play Rock Hill Post 34 next week at home at Fort Mill High Monday and Thursday and on the road Tuesday. The three-game series will determine who wins the league title and who gets the top seed in the playoffs from the league. Fort Mill Post 43 juniors will also return to action at Rock Hill Monday and Thursday and at home at Nation Ford Tuesday.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
