Published: Friday, Jun. 19, 2009 / Updated: Friday, Jun. 19, 2009 10:19 AM
Post 43 routs Lancaster
FORT MILL --
Kyle Whitman went 3-for-5 and drove in five runs Thursday to help lead Fort Mill Post 43 to a 17-8 win over Lancaster Post 31 in League V action at Fort Mill High School.
Whitman doubled in two runs in the second inning, doubled in two more in the second and then added a run-scoring single in the third.
Post 43 improved to 3-3 with the win. Lancaster dropped to 2-3.
Fort Mill sent 10 men to the plate in the first inning to score four runs off three hits, two walks, two hit batsmen, an error and a wild pitch. That was just a taste of what this game had to offer.
Post 43 banged out a season-high 17 hits.
“The team has been working hard,” Fort Mill coach Erik Baddeley said. “With all the rainouts they've spent a lot of time in the batting cages. Now they are starting to come around. Tonight, everything seemed to come together, the hits and the defense.”
Fort Mill turned three double plays in the game, including one in the eighth inning with the bases loaded, and a ninth-inning gem that ended the game.
The Whitman brothers, Kyle and Shane, were a force in the game. Kyle is a rising sophomore at Nation Ford High School. Shane, who plays for USC Lancaster, reached base six times and scored five runs. This is the second year the brothers have played together for Post 43.
“It's still a blast to play with Kyle,” older brother Shane said. He thinks the game could be a turning point for the team.
“This was by far the biggest offensive game for us this year. We finally got smart at the plate,” Shane said.
Baddeley is enjoying having the Whitmans on the team.
“They are two great leaders,” he said. “That's what you need on a team.”
Kyle Hartley had three hits, while Robbie Thompson added three hits and three RBIs. Garrett Koster hit a three-run homer in the four-run seventh to bolster Fort Mill's attack.
Koster's home run was a no-doubter. When he hit it, Lancaster left fielder Nick Ferguson simply pivoted on his left leg to see where the ball would land.
Koster played a handful of games at Winthrop as a freshman this spring. He was dismissed for a violation of team rules.
“People expect a lot from (Koster),” Baddeley said. “The time off from baseball hurt his timing at the plate. He has to be more patient. But that hit there … that could open the flood gates for him.”
Fort Mill's Eli Windham threw seven innings to pick up the win. Lancaster starting pitcher Trevor Hammond was chased in the second inning after yielding four hits and two walks to go with three hit batsmen.
Lancaster's Joe Wright drove in the game's first run as an unknown player. The designated hitter's name was listed correctly on the lineup card. Trouble was, he was identified as No. 20 and was wearing uniform No. 17.
Baddeley came out to discuss the matter with the home plate umpire only after a Wright delivered a two-out RBI single in the first inning. Lancaster coach Phillip Greenleaf was consulted. Everyone agreed Wright was indeed Wright, and Lancaster led 1-0.
Wright finished the game 2-for-4 with four RBIs. Michael Catoe was 3-for-3 with two runs scored and a stolen base. He reached base in all five plate appearances. Ferguson had a pair of doubles and scored three runs for Post 31.
The same teams will play again at 7 p.m. tonight at Lancaster.