GREENWOOD – Off four consecutive singles, South Florence walked off an elimination game to end Fort Mill Post 43 season in the Juniors State Tournament Monday.
Post 43 rallied in the top of the seventh to tie the game at 7-7, before South Florence won it in the bottom of the inning 8-7.
South Florence got to Post 43 early scoring five runs in the second inning to go up 5-0, but Fort Mill chipped away at them until they tied it.
“We had too many mistakes in the game,” said Post 43 Juniors head coach Michael Lewis. “Zach (Boutwell) threw well, but it wasn’t his day.”
Boutwell got the start but lasted just two innings and gave up five runs on seven hits. Post 43 pitching allowed for 16 hits. Fort Mill also struggled getting hits of their own and managed just five hits in the game as Aiden Cattarin led the way going 2-2 with three RBI. Both Killion Bennett and Alex Smith each had RBIs as well for Fort Mill.
Post 43 scored three runs in the top of the third to make a game of it as Cattarin drove in Brayden Hampton and Mitchell Ladamus. Jackson Childs would also score on a passed ball.
South Florence plated one in the bottom of the third, before Post 43 would score two in the top of the fifth to make a game of it. Cattarin would drive in Ladamus, who walked and Bennett would drive in Bradyn Deaton on a sacrifice fly.
Every time Fort Mill seemed to get closer, South Florence would add an insurance run to help open the gap. South Florence scored a run in the bottom of the sixth to make it 7-5. Then in the top of the seventh, Post 43 would tie the game on two hits as Deaton singled to open the inning. Smith would hit a double to score him and Bennett would get his second RBI of the game to tie it before heading to the bottom of the inning.
The Post 43 Juniors finished their season at 13-7 overall.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
