Fort Mill beats Clover in 10th inning with walk-off hit

Wednesday night was Senior Night for Fort Mill’s softball team, a chance to remark on how far the program has come in the last four years. When the four Yellow Jacket 12th graders first showed up, Chuck Stegall’s program was middle of the table.

“Bottom,” he corrected.

That’s what made a 10-inning, 3-2 win over Clover even sweeter. Not only did it wrap up the Region 3-4A title for the Yellow Jackets - winners of 18 straight games - but it also was the next step in a journey back toward contention that’s been long and difficult.

“We’ve been selling hard work, long practices and trusting in each other,” said Stegall, his eyes glossy with emotion. “And we just keep pounding it out.”

One of those four seniors, Joslyn Halcom, has played for Stegall’s varsity team for the last five years. Wednesday night was emotional enough, so imagine her nerves when she stepped into the batter’s box in the bottom of the 10th inning with the score tied 2-2 and a Yellow Jacket runner on third.

“It feels really good and I’m just really happy for my senior year that all this is going on,” said Halcom.

Halcom laced a single through the left side of the infield that scored Sydney Adams, and brought all of her teammates pouring out of the dugout to celebrate a region title against the defending state champs.

Turning point

Halcom’s hit was the turning point in a closely contested and interesting game, filled with foul balls and nervy moments.

Sydney Adams began the bottom of the 10th inning on second base, an international rule used in extra innings, and she advanced to third on a passed ball/wild pitch that reached the backstop. The plan had been to have Halcom bunt Adams over, but that was scrapped on the passed ball.

“She’s a senior,” said Stegall. “Let her win the game.

Halcom then got solid contact on a Kayla Ogle pitch and drove it left side through the infield to do just that.

Critical

It looked like Shea Hall’s Clover team would snatch a win late after the Blue Eagles scored twice in the top of the sixth to tie the game. But they couldn’t continue the momentum in the next inning, nor could they rediscover it during any of the subsequent three extra innings that were played.

“You’ve got to tip your hat to Fort Mill,” said Hall. “They executed and we didn’t. I’m really surprised it was just a one-run game; I really didn’t think we played well.”

Part of that has to do with Stegall’s team. Fort Mill hadn’t allowed more than a run in a game in three weeks and the Yellow Jackets were safe fielders defensively Wednesday.

“When they come over, you know you’ve got to do everything right,” said Stegall.

Star contributions

It was easy to see Rajcok was jacked up on her Senior Night, evinced by the ferocity with which she whipped her bat around on the game’s opening pitch. She finished 2-for-3 at the plate, and reached on three of her four plate appearances. Rajcok’s fellow senior, Halcom, also reached on three of four chances, and of course delivered the winning hit.

Fort Mill pitcher Bella Roy came into the game with an eye-popping pile of strikeouts, but Clover’s Ogle was at least as good as Roy on Wednesday night. Ogle fanned 12 Yellow Jackets, and though she surrendered bases to the hosts, she avoided giving up the big hit. She ended seven different innings with clutch strikeouts.

“She got better as the game went on,” said Hall. “There’s been maybe one game all year where she hadn’t put us in a situation to win the ballgame.”

On deck

Fort Mill’s regular season is finished; the Yellow Jackets will host a first round playoff game next Thursday. Clover closes the regular season against rival York on Thursday.

Box score

Fort Mill 3, Clover 2

Clover;000;002;000;0- 2;4;2

Fort Mill;100;010;000;- 3;6;1

WP- Bella Roy; LP- Kayla Ogle

Leading hitters: Clover- Shania Domingue 1-3, RBI 2B, BB; Candace Calloway 1-3, RBI. Fort Mill- Julia Rajcok 2-3, 2B; Lauren Collie 0-1, 2 BB, RBI; Jocelyn Halcom 2-3, RBI; Peyton Lemire 1-3, RBI.

Records: Clover 8-2 Region 3-4A; Fort Mill 22-2, 12-0

This story was originally published April 20, 2016 at 11:24 PM with the headline "Fort Mill beats Clover in 10th inning with walk-off hit."