FLORENCE – After a day of rainouts, Fort Mill Post 43 opened the American Legion State Seniors Baseball tournament with a win at Francis Marion University Tuesday.
Post 43 beat Chapin-Newberry Post 193/34 6-2 to advance to the final four teams in the state.
The two teams met in the regular season with Fort Mill getting a 6-1 win at Newberry College.
Chapin-Newberry got a base runner on in the first and Post 43 went in order in their half of the first inning.
Neither team was able to do anything in the second inning as Post 43 starter Jackson Mullen had strong command of his pitches.
Chapin-Newberry for two runners on in the third inning after having a player hit by a pitch and one single to put runners on the corners. An infield single scored a run for Chapin-Newberry as they went up 1-0 before Fort Mill was able to get out of the inning.
In the bottom of the third, Anthony Marano reached on an error and Owen Noonan got the first hit of the game for Post 43. Nico Bartolotti then singled in Marano to tie the game at one.
Things got better for Post 43 in the bottom of the fourth with the first three batters-Zach Jennings, Hunter Busque, and Simon Fernandez each getting walks, with no outs to load the bases.
Jonathan Barschow would then drive in a run on a fielder’s choice to give Fort Mill a 2-1 lead.
Chapin-Newberry would threaten in the fifth inning with two runners getting on by walks and one out. An infield hit then tied the game at two before Post 43 could get out of the inning.
The bottom of the inning started productive for Post 43 as Marano walked and Noonan singled to put runners on the corners with no outs before Chapin-Newberry made a pitching change.
Bartolotti then singles driving in two to double up Chapin-Newberry to make it 4-2. A double by Jennings led to the second pitching change of the inning. A single by Busque added two more runs for Fort Mill. Fernandez and Barschow singled and Logan Sulli walked to load the bases before Chapin-Newberry was able to get them out of the inning as Post 43 led 6-2.
Fort Mill didn’t get any insurance in the sixth inning, as Mullen would go out and almost pitch a complete game. Mullen would go six and two thirds allowing two runs on four hits while walking three and striking out 10.
Bartolotti and Noonan each had two hits to lead Fort Mill. Bartolotti had three RBIs and Busque had two RBIs.
Post 43 improved to 20-6 overall. They will play Camden Post 17 Wednesday at 7 pm back at Francis Marion University. Camden and Fort Mill were in the same League IV during the regular season and Fort Mill swept a three-game series against them during the regular season. This will be the fourth time they meet this season.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
