Many new faces for Fort Mill’s Post 43

With just two returning players from last year’s League V championship-winning team, Fort Mill American Legion Post 43 appears to be in the midst of a rebuilding year.

Post 43 returns just two pitchers – Josh Jones and Clay Helvey – while trying to get back to the 19-4 record the team put together last year. Post 43 is also trying to make it back to the second round of the playoffs for the third straight year.

“I am very excited about the 2016 season,” said head coach Tom Skula.

“After coming off a 19-4 season and being one win away from the state tournament, we have garnered a lot of interest from players around Fort Mill. We will only have two players back from last year’s team, but they will play a huge role in our success this season. Add in Drake Durham, Joseph Wyatt, Clay King, and Jack Corkery and we will have one of the best pitching staffs in our league.”

This year’s team will feature a mixture of Nation Ford and Fort Mill players, but will also have a young crop of Indian Land athletes as well.

“Up the middle we will be very solid with Joey Tepper at shortstop and Matt Evdemon at second,” Skula said.

“Manning center field will be speedy Josh Evans. At catcher and the corner infield/outfield spots, we will be very flexible with the ability to be interchangeable on a nightly basis. With the great pitching that we have along with the speed I think we will be a very dangerous team this season.”

Because of how the school calendar fell, Post 43’s season is starting later with its first game coming May 31 against Clover. That game will be a 6 p.m. doubleheader at Post 43’s home field – Fort Mill High School.

This year’s team also adds the experience of newly christened Fort Mill head baseball coach Travis Collier, who joins the staff. Collier, a former Legion player himself, was named head baseball coach at Fort Mill last week as well.

This story was originally published May 23, 2016 at 1:13 PM with the headline "Many new faces for Fort Mill’s Post 43."