Despite a rally to tie the game in the sixth inning, the Fort Mill Post 43 senior team fell to Lancaster Post 31 6-4 Wednesday having been swept by them this season.
The loss drops Post 43 to 5-8-1 overall on the season and secures a third-place finish in League V for them after winning the league title for the past four seasons.
Fort Mill scored first in the bottom of the second inning as Rylee Ashworth doubled in Alex Steckler, who reached on a single.
Lancaster would then grab the lead in the top of the third with three runs off Post 43 starter Eric Yelton. The game would stay that way for the most part until the bottom of the sixth inning where Fort Mill would tie the game up.
In the sixth, Steckler would single to advance courtesy runner Seth Hanson, before Ashworth would groundout knocking in Hanson. Steckler would then score as Drew Endres would tie the game at 3-3 on a line drive to center.
Fort Mill would head to the top of the seventh where Lancaster would blow the game open on two Post 43 errors and a hit. Post 43 also walked a batter and hit a batter as Lancaster grabbed a 6-3 lead.
Fort Mill did score a run in the bottom of the seventh on a single by Steckler knocking in Luke Garabedian, who reached on an error. Despite the run, Post 43 failed to score another run as the game would end with a runner on third base.
On the mound, Jacob Boyna would get the loss allowing three runs on one hit, while walking three and striking out two. Yelton went five innings and allowed three runs on seven hits, while walking two and striking out two
Post 43 struggled at the plate only getting six hits as Steckler went 3-4 with an RBI to lead and Endres went 2-3 with an RBI as well. Ashworth went 1-3 with two RBI to get the other hit for Fort Mill.
Fort Mill will now face Rock Hill on the road Thursday at Rock Hill High to close out the week.
Juniors stay alive in race for first place
The Fort Mill Post 43 juniors beat Lancaster Post 31 on the road 12-2 to stay atop the race for first place in League V.
Zach Boutwell pitched a complete game one hitter for Post 43 as Fort Mill scattered 13 hits in the game. Bradyn Deaton and Aiden Cattarin each had three hits to lead Fort Mill. Brody Owens and Reid Kazmierczak both had two hits in the win as well.
Boutwell pitched six innings and allowed two runs on one hit, while walking one and striking out three.
Post 43 is now 8-3 on the season and will face Rock Hill Post 34 in a key game Thursday at home at Nation Ford needing to win to clinch the league title.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
