Fort Mill baseball squeaks past Nation Ford

An extra innings error allowed Fort Mill to come away with a 1-0 win over rival Nation Ford and put an end to a pitching clinic by both teams.

Jackets second baseman Matt Meacham led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a single and then scored on a throwing error by Nation Ford two batters later for the only run of the game.

Fort Mill senior Clay Helvey got the start for the Jackets, while senior Clay Hunt got the start for Nation Ford. Both will be heading to College of Charleston next year to pitch as teammates.

Helvey got the win for Fort Mill, going eight innings while allowing two hits, walking six and striking out eight. Hunt came away with a no-decision.

“That is the effort Clay (Helvey) has shown all year,” said Fort Mill coach Brad Mercer. “Once he settled into the game he got better. We had a rough week last week. We are in a must win situation in the region right now.”

Hunt pitched well for Nation Ford, but its problem is not being able to get runners home. It has gone 14 innings without scoring a run.

“We are looking at too many first pitch strikes,” said Nation Ford coach Mike Matkovich. “We missed too many opportunities. We can’t ask Clay (Hunt) or Josh (Jones) to do any more than they have done.”

Helvey retired the first two batters, but allowed the first hit of the game to Hunt, who was batting in the No. 3 spot. Helvey came back and got a strike out to end the top half of the inning.

Meacham reached on an error to start things off for the Jackets in the bottom of the first. Meacham got to third on consecutive groundouts and first baseman Mason Jordan was hit to put runners on the corners. He was soon joined by designated-hitter Hunter Helms, who also got hit to load the bases. Hunt then knuckled down and got a strike out to end the inning.

Nation Ford’s designated-hitter Jordan Helms reached on a walk to start the second inning for the Falcons. Helms then was thrown out trying to steal second and Helvey got out of the inning without any damage being done.

Hunt got into the zone in the second inning by striking out the side.

Fort Mill shortstop Joey Tepper broke up Hunt’s no-hitter in the third inning with a single to centerfield passed a diving Alex Stennett at second base. Hunt bounced back and left Tepper stranded, getting out of the inning without allowing a run to score.

In the fourth inning, Nation Ford threatened as shortstop Brandon Fite led off with a walk and third baseman Josh Jones singled, before Helms was hit to load the bases with two outs. Helvey got out of the jam by forcing Cole Martin to ground out to end the inning.

Nation Ford got centerfield Beau Sluder on in the fifth inning with a walk. Sluder made it to third on a passed ball and a ground out. Both Hunt and Fite were intentionally walked to load the bases for the Falcons. The move worked for Fort Mill as Jacob Wright grounded to third for the force out.

Fort Mill threatened in the bottom of the fifth as right fielder Bryar Moore led off with a single and then was moved to second on a sacrifice by Drew Howle. Meacham then walked for the Jackets, but Nation Ford got out of the inning as Tepper grounded into a double play.

Helvey seemed to get stronger as the game went on, at one point striking out five in a row between the sixth and eighth innings.

Hunt was removed after six innings for Jones. Hunt allowed just two hits, while walking one and striking out five.

Fort Mill 1, Nation Ford 0

This story was originally published March 17, 2015 at 10:03 PM with the headline "Fort Mill baseball squeaks past Nation Ford."