FLORENCE – A one out double in the bottom of the seventh gave Florence Post 1 a 3-2 win over Fort Mill Post 43 on the last day of the American Legion Seniors State Tournament at Francis Marion University.
Post 43 finished the season at 21-7 and with a third-place finish in the state.
The game started evenly as neither team could get their offense going through the first two innings.
In the top of the third with two outs, Zach Jennings hit a long double to left field. He was tagged on a relay after coming off the base, before a Post 43 run could score leading to the third out.
The heat became an issue for Post 43 starter Sam Czyz as he had to get a cold compress with two outs in the third inning with temperatures reaching 96 degrees in Florence, but even hotter on the field. Czyz was able to push through the discomfort and remained in the game for the next several innings.
Florence continued to threaten getting runners on base, but Fort Mill continued to find a way to get out of trouble.
In the top of the sixth, Jackson Mullen drove in Jennings, who reached on a walk to give Post 43 the lone run of the game to that point.
Czyz went five and two thirds before coming out with runners on the corners for Florence. He allowed seven hits while walking one and striking out three. Lane Ross would come in for relief.
Florence would get a hit to tie the game at one, before Fort Mill could get out of the inning.
In the top of the seventh, Hunter Busque drove in Noonan who reached after getting hit by a pitch. Busque led Fort Mill at the plate going 2-4 with an RBI. Bartolotti went 2-3 as well for Post 43.
Florence came back out in the bottom of the seventh and went on the attack. A walked opened the bottom portion of the seventh and after a fly out, a single put two runners on with one out.
Post 43 again went to their bullpen, but two pitches after that the game winning hit came off the bat of Brody Cook as he drove in both runs sending Florence Post 1 to the championship game against Camden Post 17.
In the championship, a depleted bullpen for Florence fell to Camden 9-2 as Post 17 won the state title.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
