A three-run rally by Fort Mill Post 43 seniors in the bottom of the seventh led to a walk off single to keep them alive in the playoffs.
Post 43 beat Winnsboro 5-4 to advance to the finals of the Foothills Region where they now must travel back to Inman Mills and sweep a doubleheader Thursday against Inman Post 45 to earn a spot in the state tournament next week.
Nico Bartolotti had the game winning hit Wednesday against Winnsboro driving in Hunter Busque with one out in the seventh inning.
Post 43 was down 4-2 entering the final inning having just given up two runs in the top of the seventh to Winnsboro breaking a 2-2 tie. In the bottom of the seventh, Jonathan Barschow singled to open the inning, which was followed by a single from Sam Czyz putting Barschow at third base.
Busque then singled driving in both Barschow and an errant throw allowed Czyz to score to tie the game at 4-4. Busque was able to get to third, which set up the Bartolotti hit.
Winnsboro outhit Fort Mill 9-7 in the game and Post 43 made three errors, one of which led to Winnsboro going ahead in the top of the seventh.
Fort Mill went ahead early opening the bottom half of the first inning going up 1-0 as Eli Craddock scored on a wild pitch.
Winnsboro grabbed a 2-1 lead in the third before Post 43 was able to tie the game at 2-2 in the fourth inning off a Barschow single soring Zach Jennings who tripled earlier in the inning. Barschow went 2-3 with an RBI in the game leading Fort Mill. Bartolotti and Busque each had RBIs as well for Post 43.
Jaeger Pankowski got the start on the mound for Post 43 and threw well going six innings and allowing two runs on seven hits, without allowing a walk and striking out three. Blake Sanders got the win pitching the final two-thirds of the seventh while allowing a walk and a strikeout.
The win now improves Post 43 to 12-7 overall heading into Thursday’s doubleheader at Inman.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
