Another big inning moved the Fort Mill Post 43 Juniors to 2-0 on the season after their home opener.
Fort Mill beat Lancaster Post 31 12-0 after waiting out a 90-minute rain delay.
“We are having good at bats,” said Fort Mill Post 43 Junior head coach Jeff Stack. “When the situation dictates, they need to hit a baseball hard, they do it; and when they need to be patient, they do it. I knew this team is deep and we have a lot of depth.”
Lancaster threatened in the top of the second inning getting a couple of runners on base, but Post 43 starter Cole Stukitz was able to bounce back after letting the first two batters reach because of a walk and single.
Fort Mill also got the bats started later than expected and was able to start things happening in the second inning. Post 43 did get one base runner in Noah Wright in the second inning, but failed to get him home.
Ryan Stukitz replaced his brother on the mound in the third inning. Lancaster got the first two batters on base, but Fort Mill was again able to rally defensively and get the next three batters out to get out of the jam.
Post 43 finally cracked the scoreboard in the third inning off a Cooper Diehl single driving in Alex Smith.
Lancaster continued to be a threat from an offensive standpoint getting two runners on in the top of the fourth off a walk and a single. However, Post 43 pitching again worked their way out of the jam without allowing a run.
The fourth inning was a big one for Fort Mill as they scored 11 runs on 11 hits and four walks.
Fort Mill got the first two batters on base in the bottom of the fourth inning with a single by Zach Boutwell and a walk to Wright. Connor Fowler would single to load the bases and James Knoll would knock in Boutwell.
A walk to Diehl scored Fowler and a walk to Michael Caropreso scored Knoll. Grey Kneidel then doubled to score two more runs.
After a pitching change, Carson Krueger walked to load the bases and Boutwell walked to score Caropreso. Wright walked scoring Kneidel and Fowler walked again to score Krueger before another pitching change by Lancaster.
Two consecutive balls by Post 31 plated two more runs for Fort Mill. That led to two more walks to make it an 11-run inning for Post 43.
Carter Powell came in to pitch the fifth inning allowing just one hit and striking out one. Ryan Stukitz got the win going two innings and allowing one hit, while striking out three and walking one.
Post 43 got five hits despite the 12 runs as Kneidel, Diehl, and Caropreso each had two RBIs in going 1-2 at the plate.
Fort Mill plays again on Thursday, June 6 at home against the Post 31 Yellow Jackets.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
