A late inning rally wasn’t enough for the Fort Mill Post 43 Juniors as they fell 5-4 for their first loss of the season falling to the Post 31 Yellow Jackets from Buford.
Buford scored two runs in the first inning off a couple of hits to put Post 43 down early.
Gavin Love led the top of the second inning off with a double for Post 31 and was driven in by Jayden McKenzie. A single by Austin Catledge would give Post 31 another run.
Fort Mill threatened in the second inning getting runners on second and third base, but failed to drive anyone in.
Post 43 starter Christian Soder settled down in the third inning holding Post 31 at bay without allowing a run. Soder would go three innings allowing four runs on six hits while walking a couple.
Fort Mill struggled to get hits throughout the game and rarely threatened.
Ryan Stukitz would come to the mound in the fourth inning. Stukitz would finish the game going four innings allowing one run on three hits, while walking one and striking out one.
Offensively, hits for Fort Mill continued to come slow. Carson Krueger had a single in the fourth and Alex Downes had one in the fifth inning for Post 43, but left both on base.
Post 31 picked up a run in the sixth inning to go up 5-0 on the back of one hit and two Fort Mill errors.
Finally in the seventh inning at their last at-bat, Post 43 had their best chance loading the bases with no outs with two walks and a single by Krueger.
A passed ball prevented the shutout for Fort Mill as Cole Stukitz scored. Another walk and a hit batter provided a Post 43 second run. That led to the Jackets’ pitching change with one out in the inning. A Post 31 error scored a third run and Zach Young’s sacrifice fly pulled Fort Mill within one run.
However, that would be all the runs that Post 43 could gather as the next hitter would fly out. Post 43 managed just five hits in the game as Krueger went 2-3 to lead at the plate.
The loss drops Post 43 Juniors to 6-1 on the season as they will travel to Rock Hill Post 34 Tuesday.
Seniors get third consecutive shutout
The Fort Mill Post 43 Seniors picked up a 11-0 win over Lancaster Post 31 on the road Monday to improve to 7-1 on the season.
The win was the third consecutive shutout for Post 43 Seniors as they improved to 4-0 in League IV.
Fort Mill scored eight runs in the top of the first inning to set the pace against Lancaster. Owen Noonan and Simon Fernandez each had two hits. Fernandez had two RBIs, as did Hunter Busque and Jackson Mullen.
River Joye got the win on the mound going four innings and allowing three hits, while walking three and striking out two. Lane Ross finished the game pitching one inning and striking out one.
Post 43 Seniors will host Lancaster Post 31 at Fort Mill High Tuesday.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
