NEWBERRY – One bad half inning for the Fort Mill Post 43 Juniors was enough for Florence Post 1 to pull out a win.
Florence edged Fort Mill 4-1 in an elimination game of the American Legion Juniors State Tournament Monday at Newberry College.
James Knoll singled to get things started for Post 43 in the top of the first inning. Alex Smith reached on a fielder’s choice and then made it to third after a walk to Cole Stukitz. Smith was driven in by Zach Boutwell to put Fort Mill up 1-0 after the first inning.
Christian Soder got the start for Post 43 and did well in the bottom of the first.
In the second inning, Florence scored off a Fort Mill error to tie the game at one.
Florence doubled to open the bottom of the third inning, but had the runner caught in a run down to get an out. Post 1 then put runners on the corners, but Fort Mill was able to get out of the inning without allowing a run.
In the bottom of the fourth, Florence again got runners on the corners, before starter Soder was pulled for Alex Downes. Soder would be responsible for three runs on six hits. He struck out two and walked two. Florence added two runs to go up 3-1 after the inning.
Downes got pulled to start the fifth inning for Carter Czapla. Florence then got two on, but Post 43 was able to get out of the inning without giving up a run.
In the sixth inning, Carson Krueger singled with one out, but again Fort Mill struggled to get him in.
Post 43 was unable to score in the top of the seventh ending the game. Fort Mill got five hits on the game with Boutwell getting the only RBI for Post 43 in going 1-3.
Fort Mill finishes the season at 14-4 overall with a sixth-place finish in the tournament.
Seniors open second round series
The Post 43 Senior team opened the second round of the playoffs against Anderson Post 14 with a home game Monday.
Fort Mill got an 8-3 win over Anderson to take a 1-0 lead in the best of three series.
Fort Mill scored a run in the first inning as Zach Jennings doubled scoring Cooper Zohner, who reached on an error.
In the second inning, Brennan Helms drove in Jackson Mullen, who reached on a walk.
The fourth inning was a big inning for Post 43 as they scored three runs.
Nico Bartolotti drove in Jonathan Barschow, who singled to get things rolling. Zohner then doubled scoring them both to put Fort Mill up 5-0.
Starter River Joye went five innings and allowed two runs on three hits and three walks, while striking out four.
Anderson rallied scoring three runs in the top of the sixth inning off Post 43.
Fort Mill got all three runs back with the help of Anderson’s walking in runs. Zohner got a run back in the bottom of the sixth scoring Owen Noonan. Mullen got an RBI bases loaded walk scoring Bartolotti, who also walked earlier in the inning. Simon Fernandez also walked scoring Jennings to make it 8-3.
Zohner went 2-3 with three RBI and Barschow went 2-4 at the plate as well.
Joye got the win and Lane Ross got the save going an inning and two thirds and struck out four.
Fort Mill will play game two at Anderson Tuesday as they improved to 17-5 on the season. A win Tuesday will send Post 43 Seniors to the state tournament starting this weekend.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
