The Dutch Fork Silver Foxes ended the Fort Mill baseball season with a 2-1 win in a District elimination game Saturday night.
Fort Mill didn’t play bad, but struggled to get the hits they needed to produce much offense.
“We gave ourself a chance in the end and that is all you can ask for,” said Fort Mill head coach Travis Collier. “I hate it for the seniors. Overall, we had a good year. I feel like we had the toughest schedule in the state from top to bottom. There wasn’t an easy game. We were pretty battle tested. The injury bug hit us early in certain spots. Guys stepped up when they had too, but it was a tough year personnel wise due to injury.”
Dutch Fork threatened in the top of the first, but Fort Mill starter Nick Krise worked out of a jam as the Silver Foxes failed to score to open the game,
Fort Mill put one on in the bottom of the inning, but left him stranded as well.
Both teams were able to get hits early but struggled to get a score. Fort Mill did get a fielders’ choice in the bottom of the second that almost scored a run, but the Jackets runner was thrown out at home.
Dutch Fork struck first scoring in the top of the third off three consecutive hits. Nick Sholl was able to come in for Fort Mill to shut down the Silver Foxes and get out of the bases loaded jam for the Jackets without allowing another run as Dutch Fork held to a 1-0 lead.
Fort Mill tied it in the bottom of the third on a sacrifice fly from Andrew Craddock scoring Eli Craddock, who reached on a walk.
Dutch Fork led off with a single to open the fifth inning. Another single scored a run for the Silver Foxes to give them a 2-1 lead with no outs. Dutch Fork continued to threaten, but Fort Mill was able to again work their way through it.
Fort Mill threw a runner out at the plate in the top of the seventh on a laser from right fielder Brent Laughter.
The momentum shifted to the Jackets as Jaeger Pankowski singled to open the bottom of the seventh, but Fort Mill failed to score ending the game.
Fort Mill got just four hits in the game as Pankowski led going 2-3 at the plate.
Sholl got the loss but didn’t pitch bad going three and two thirds innings allowing one run on four hits, while striking out three and walking one.
Fort Mill finished the season at 14-14 overall.
May 6 Roundup
Catawba Ridge
The Catawba Ridge girls’ soccer team lost 1-0 at home to the Eastside Eagles in the third round of the 4A state playoffs. Catawba Ridge finished the season at 15-6 overall. Eastside will travel to Indian Land for the 4A Upper State championship Tuesday, May 9.
Nation Ford
On the road in Greenville County, the Nation Ford girls’ soccer team lost 3-0 to Mauldin in the third round of the 5A state playoffs ending their season at 12-10 overall.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
