Post 43 sweeps way into second round of American Legion Baseball playoffs

With a first round sweep of Spartanburg Post 28, the Fort Mill Post 43 sprinted into the second round of the state American Legion Baseball playoffs for the second straight year.

Fort Mill, ranked No. 3 in the state, will now take on eighth-ranked Gaffney Post 109 in a best of five series to determine who moves on to the state tournament in Sumter July 25-29. Post 43 improved to 17-1 with the 3-0 sweep of Spartanburg.

“Our bats came alive this week like they have done all season,” Post 43 head coach Tom Skula said. “Our pitching keeps improving as we go deeper into the season. I’m very happy to get the sweep against Spartanburg. It will give our players four days to rest and get ready for our series next week. We still have work left to be done next week against a very good Gaffney team.”

Led by Clay Hunt and Clay Helvey at the plate, Fort Mill finished off Post 28 with a 13-3 win in game three. Hunt went 2-3 scoring three times and had an RBI double, while Helvey went 2-4 with three RBI.

Post 43 allowed just four hits in the game as starter Garrett Leonard went four innings, giving up three hits and three runs. He struggled some, walking four batters. He also struck out four. Wyatt Baechtold went three innings in relief allowing three hits as well, giving up one run while striking out four and walking a couple batters.

Spartanburg’s pitching aided Fort Mill’s time at the plate, issuing 12 walks in games two and three. In game two, Post 43 took advantage of Post 28’s pitching struggles in the 20-6 win.

Despite the score, Post 43 had its ups and downs early in the game and allowed Spartanburg to come back and tie the game at 4-4 after the second inning.

Post 43 pitcher Josh Jones went five innings in picking up the win allowing five runs, just one earned, on eight hits while striking out six and walking two.

At the plate, Fort Mill was led by Brandon Fite, who went 4-5 with a double, three RBI and four stolen bases. Matt Navarro went 3-4 as well with two RBI and scored three times.

Post 43 busted the game open in the fifth inning, scoring six runs and again in the seventh inning scoring eight runs in the rout.

The first game of the series was the closest as Fort Mill won 8-4 despite having an 8-0 lead at one point. Hunt got the win on the mound going five innings and allowing four hits while striking out three.

Post 43’s middle relievers struggled some, allowing the four runs on five hits including giving up the team’s first home run all season. However, the four runs came in the eighth and ninth innings as Fort Mill closed out Spartanburg’s chances to win the game.

Leading the way at the plate for Post 43 was Beau Sluder, who went 3-4 and Justin Tepper, who went 3-5. Helvey and Navarro both went 2-5 as Fort Mill scattered 17 hits in the game.

The series against Gaffney is scheduled to begin July 13 in Fort Mill with other homes games scheduled July 15 and, if necessary, July 17.

This story was originally published July 10, 2015 at 4:40 PM with the headline "Post 43 sweeps way into second round of American Legion Baseball playoffs."