FLORENCE, S.C. – On Friday afternoon, an elimination showdown took place as Inman Post 45 faced off against Camden Post 17 at Francis Marion University's Sparrow Stadium. Unfortunately for Inman, the season came to a close as they fell to Camden by a score of 10-5.
Inman finishes with a 13-5 overall record, having won the League Five championship and being one of six teams that advanced to the SCALB State Championship round. Camden pushed across two runs on two hits in the opening frame but ran into trouble on the basepaths. On a single to center in the first, Luke Compton fired a rocket to Kaden Roach, who relayed it to Johann Rodriguez for the third out at home plate. In the second inning, Compton threw another rope to Roach, who quickly flipped it to Jarren Metcalf for a putout at second base that helped keep it a two-run game. Rodriguez and Childers each notched two-out base hits in the fourth inning for Inman, followed by a Camden error that allowed Rodriguez to score and cut the deficit down to one. An inning later, Camden plated seven runs capped by a grand slam to create a 9-1 lead. For Inman offensively after the outburst by Camden, a Corben Childers two-run double to the left-center field wall allowed Compton and Rodriguez to sprint home. Childers scored on a Hudson Wilson opposite-field single to left, while Hudson Moss singled and later sprinted home on a wild pitch, which made it a 9-5 game at that juncture. However, Camden added another run on a RBI fielders’ choice in their half of the sixth inning that provided the final margin. Four Inman players – Jacob Cogdell, Johann Rodriguez, Jarren Metcalf, and Luke Compton – have been chosen to play in the 2023 SCALB All-Star Game on Sunday, July 23rd at Sparrow Stadium. It will be played following the conclusion of the state championship game. INMAN, S.C. – For the last time in the 2023 season, the lights shined at Jim Everhart Field as Inman Post 45 opened play in the SCALB State Tournament against Richland Post 215. A dominant effort told the story as Inman pulled away for a 10-0 victory over Richland in five innings.
Leading by a run at the midway point, Inman’s offense caught fire in the fourth inning. A Corben Childers single to center, Perry Dyer walk, and a Ricky Montalvo sacrifice bunt put two runners in scoring position with only one out. Childers scored on a Hudson Moss sacrifice fly to right, while a pair of Richland miscues allowed Dyer and Cason Owens to score, which put Inman ahead by four. Kaden Roach drew a bases-loaded free pass, followed by a Childers RBI base hit to right that made it a 7-0 Inman lead after four complete. “(Richland) had a tough night, but they’re a really quality team,” said Inman coach Mark Line. “They will be around this weekend in Florence, I promise you. I think our guys are just tough hitters and battlers. They go to the plate, learn from their first at-bat, and are a little tougher in their next one. Our kids do a great job of battling at the plate, and you win when you do that.” In the final frame, Inman plated three runs on a Jarren Metcalf RBI fielders’ choice, Johann Rodriguez RBI single to left, and a bases-loaded walk to Roach, which ended the game and provided the final margin. “Just attack and keep putting the pressure on them,” Rodriguez stated about the team's approach at the plate. “We kept putting the ball in play and good things happened. Coach Skinner has been coaching here for a long time (44 seasons) and he has never been able to put a (championship) ring on that finger.” “I think it’d be good if we could put a ring on Coach Skinner and win a championship for the Inman community.” Jacob Cogdell toed the slab for Inman and settled in fast, sitting down the first two batters he faced on strikes. Cogdell did a masterful job in five shutout innings of work, scattering four hits while striking out three batters. Of the fifteen outs recorded by the Inman defense, seven were by way of a groundout. “You could tell they were really battle-tested, especially after coming back to win three games in a row in the first round,” said Cogdell. “We knew they were here to play. (The fourth inning) was good and it took off a lot of the pressure. It made it to where I just had to go back out there, get three outs, and get back in (to the dugout). This is a big first step, but we have to get back at it tomorrow.” "(Jacob) has been fantastic,” Line exclaimed. “He just keeps doing what he does and it’s just so remarkable that he keeps doing it. He has been lights out and I cannot say enough about him.” At the plate, Rodriguez notched three hits in three at-bats and scored a run, while Childers was 2-for-2 with two runs scored and two runs batted in. Roach drove in a pair of runs, while Montalvo was 1-for-1 and Moss went 1-for-2 with a run batted in. Dyer and Roach each drew two walks apiece. Inman (13-3) will have a quick turnaround as they will face Rock Hill Post 34 on Wednesday at Rock Hill High School, slated for a 7 PM start. INMAN, S.C. – Over the past few seasons, Inman Post 45 and Fort Mill Post 43 have crossed paths several times in the American Legion playoffs, so it was fitting that the two sides met again with a chance at a championship on the line. A gritty effort coupled with some defensive web gems helped Inman edge Fort Mill 8-5, winning the Foothills regional title and a berth in next week’s state tournament.
A Jarren Metcalf leadoff single and two walks – one each issued to Perry Dyer and Johann Rodriguez – set the table for Inman in the opening frame. A pair of wild pitches allowed Metcalf and Dyer to score, putting Post 45 ahead. Three batters later, a Ricky Montalvo two-out single to center field scored Rodriguez for a 3-0 Inman lead. Fort Mill answered in the second inning with consecutive two-out singles, one each by Eli Craddock and Nico Bartolotti, that drove in three runs for the visitors and tied the game. Inman countered in their half of the inning with RBI singles from Kaden Roach and Corben Childers to retake a 5-3 lead. Post 43 picked up a two-out runner in the third, but Inman’s Hudson Moss tracked down a high chopper in between third and shortstop and fired it quickly to first base for the last out of the inning. “I wanted to do everything I could do, do that to the best of my ability, and make plays,” said Moss. “(Shortstop Perry Dyer and I) talked about it after. We didn’t have any communication and just said whoever got to (the chopper) could have it. We almost ran into each other but didn’t and I was glad to make a good throw.” A pair of RBI singles helped Fort Mill pull even at five, but three straight one-out walks in the fourth inning for Inman loaded the bases for Childers, who smashed a two-run single to left. Three batters later, Moss worked a bases-loaded walk that scored Roach and made it an 8-5 advantage for Post 45. Fort Mill looked for a two-out spark in the fifth inning as a batter notched a base hit and moved into scoring position on an Inman miscue. However, Metcalf tracked down a high twisting pop up deep in foul territory from his spot at second base and made an outstanding grab for the third out to erase the threat. Childers was the pitcher of record for Inman and limited Fort Mill to five runs on five hits over six innings of work while striking out six batters on the night. Kyle Dill tossed a scoreless seventh and recorded his second save of the week, which was aided by a sliding stop and throw to first by Moss. “It feels good,” Childers exclaimed about the win. “We’re going to keep competing against better competition. It was a game time decision about whether I pitched tonight… I just went out there, tried my hardest, and it worked out. The defense was so important for me and everything that went on in the game.” “It’s definitely awesome anytime you can get your starter to go six innings,” Inman assistant coach Jake Cothran remarked. “Five-plus (innings) is really all you need out of them. (Childers) went out there and got the extra inning while battling a finger issue, so he really showed his grit. Dill is going to come in, work with a pace, and pound the strike zone. That’s all you can ask for.” At the plate, Childers was 2-for-4 with a team-high three runs batted in. Metcalf finished 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored, while Roach also went 1-for-3 with a walk, RBI, and run scored. As a team, Post 45 recorded 11 walks; Dyer (3), Rodriguez (2), and Moss (2) each earned multiple free passes. “Anytime we can put up runs like that it's huge,” stated Inman assistant coach Luke Johnson. “As long as our pitching staff does work, we can push through at the plate. Fort Mill did a really good job tonight and I have to give it to them. We (the coaching staff) love our players to death. They play their hearts out and that’s all we can ask.” Inman (12-3) will have some time off before returning to action in the SCALB State Tournament, which is slated to begin on July 18th/19th. Further details were not available at the time this story was published. INMAN, S.C. – On Tuesday evening, Inman Post 45 hosted Fort Mill Post 43 in the second round of the American Legion baseball playoffs. Facing an early deficit, an offensive outburst helped propel Inman to a 13-3 victory over Fort Mill in six innings.
Fort Mill wasted little time in the first inning as Eli Craddock and Nico Bartolotti each tallied a base hit, while Gabe Simmons drew a free pass that loaded the bases with none out. A Scott Young single and Inman miscue on the next play allowed two runs to score and staked Post 43 to an early lead. After stranding three runners in the first two frames, Cason Owens set off a string of four straight hits as Luke Compton and Johann Rodriguez each singled to load the bases with none out. A Hudson Wilson base knock to left and a Fort Mill miscue allowed a pair of runs to score, tying the game at two. “(We) just never quit,” Owens said. “We know that we have a good lineup and can score a lot of runs. We showed a lot of grit tonight. I think this shows that we can win a ballgame in different ways, whether someone jumps out (to a lead) on us or we jump out on them. We can still win a game no matter what.” Two batters later, Corben Childers sent a scorcher off the third base bag and down the left field line, which plated Rodriguez and gave Inman the lead. Wilson scored on a Jarren Metcalf base knock to right, while Childers sprinted home on a Perry Dyer sacrifice fly that made for a 5-2 advantage for Post 45. Post 45 struck for six more runs over the next two frames, which included a two-run single by Metcalf, a Dyer opposite-field hit, and a Roach RBI base knock to left that extended the lead to 10-3 at that juncture of the contest. “I stayed with a line drive approach,” stated Metcalf. “I had a bit of a personal battle tonight, as Fort Mill’s pitcher (Sam Czyz) is going to be my college roommate (at Lander) … He was throwing hard tonight, so we stayed with a backside approach if we had two strikes. I think this shows our team has grit and the potential to go to State.” Ricky Montalvo took the hill for Post 45 and did his part, working around three different situations that saw at least one Fort Mill runner in scoring position. With the bases loaded and none out in the fourth, the Inman right-hander worked out of trouble and limited Fort Mill to one run in the inning. Montalvo tossed a complete game for Inman, scattering three runs on six hits over six innings of work, while also recording a pair of strikeouts. In the bottom of the sixth, Compton ripped a scorching single down the right field line which allowed Dyer to cross home plate and provide the final margin. At the plate, Metcalf tallied four hits in four at-bats and drove in three runs. Compton finished the game 4-for-5 with a run batted in and three runs scored, while Wilson went 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored. Dyer was also 2-for-3 with three RBI, as Owens notched a base knock and run scored. “I don’t know how many (hits) were with two strikes, but there were a bunch of them,” remarked Inman coach Mark Line. “This group has done a really good job of battling when it gets late in the count. That’s concentration, focus and all those things to get down in the count and think ‘Hey, I can still do this’.” “(Fort Mill’s) pitching is good and they’re a really good team. That’s why we were doing everything we could to win the game and that’s how we’ll always play. Ricky pitched out of trouble three or four times and that’s a sign of a really good pitcher, too. I’m just really proud of how we’re playing.” Inman (11-3) will host the Fort Mill/Winnsboro winner on Thursday at Jim Everhart Field, slated for a 6:00 PM start. INMAN POST 45 SOFTBALL The Inman Post 45 softball team entered the 2023 playoffs as a number five seed after finishing their regular season with a 10-8 record. After earning a bye on Monday, the team traveled to number four seed Greenwood on Tuesday where they fell 6-1 in their second round matchup. Overall it was a successful third season for Inman Post 45 softball, as they were one of the original members of the league, and with a relatively young team this year they look forward to what’s to come next season for the team. INMAN, S.C. – Monday marked the start of the South Carolina American Legion baseball playoffs as top-seed Inman Post 45 hosted the Winnsboro Bandits in a first round matchup at Jim Everhart Field. On this night, contributions from all over the field lifted Inman to a 6-4 victory over the Bandits.
Inman struck first in the second inning, as Ricky Montalvo smacked a single to right-center field that plated Jarren Metcalf and staked Post 45 to an early lead. Perry Dyer sprinted home on a wild pitch, while Montalvo and Cason Owens scored on a Luke Compton two-run base hit to right. Kaden Roach drove in Compton and Johann Rodriguez with another two-run single that created a 6-0 Inman lead. Jacob Cogdell got the starting nod on the mound and navigated through the first three frames in less than 30 pitches. In the latter half of the contest, the Inman right-hander showed a lot of resolve and got some help from his defense. After scoring three times in the previous at-bat, the Bandits threatened again in the fifth with the bases loaded and just one out. However, Cogdell drew soft contact on a swing that kickstarted a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning and erase the threat. Winnsboro added another run in the sixth on a fielders’ choice that cut the deficit to 6-4. For the game, Cogdell tossed six innings for Post 45 and tallied four strikeouts. “It kind of felt like I was pulling off and flying open (with my delivery),” Cogdell said. “It made my control go all over the place, but I battled through and kept pushing. I knew that if I could get in the zone, then (the defense) would make the plays and get us out of it.” Kyle Dill entered the contest in the seventh and tossed a perfect final frame, which included a pair of groundouts to Dyer at shortstop. Of the last four outs recorded in the game, Dyer played a part in three of them. “We were just trying to make plays for our pitchers and stay smooth with the ground balls to not rush throws,” stated Dyer. “I think this shows how much grit this team has and how good we play together. We have momentum now. We’re going into our second game with a win, and we all believe in each other.” At the plate, Compton led the way by going 3-for-3 with a run scored and two runs batted in. Metcalf finished 2-for-3 with a run scored, while six other Post 45 batters recorded at least one hit. “Throwing up a six-spot (on the board) in the second inning was good,” Inman coach Mark Line remarked. “(Cogdell) struggled a little bit tonight, but what makes you a better pitcher down the road is that he righted himself and got through a tough situation with the bases loaded… I think that was the difference in the ballgame.” “Kyle Dill comes in and man, that was an amazing performance with only 10 pitches or so. Perry Dyer has been great at shortstop all season and he made routine plays. If you make the routine plays and don’t kick baseballs, you help your pitcher. Metcalf’s been great at second as well… and we’ve had great catching all year (from Rodriguez and Hudson Wilson). It’s always important to win the first game in any tournament. We’ve won game one, and now we move to game two.” Inman (10-3) will have a quick turnaround as they will host Fort Mill in a second-round winner’s bracket game on Tuesday at Jim Everhart Field, slated for a 7:00 PM start. Inman Post 45 Softball And Chesnee Post 48 Softball Split Doubleheader To End Regular Season7/6/2023
CHESNEE, SC - The Chesnee Post 48 and Inman Post 45 American Legion softball teams split a doubleheader on Thursday night to close out the regular season part of their schedules this year.
Inman Post 45 used a big top of the fifth inning to down Chesnee Post 48 in game one by a score of 4-3. Chesnee opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning when Harley Grady scored on a bases loaded double play to take a 1-0 lead, a score that held until the top of the fifth inning. Inman saw seven straight batters reach base and plated four runs as all four runs scored in consecutive RBI singles. Lilly Seesholtz, Myah Salters, Lillian Wilson, and Kenslie Edwards each collected the RBI singles in the top of the fifth inning to put Inman ahead 4-1 over the homestanding team from Chesnee. Chesnee attempted to answer back in the bottom of the fifth inning, but it wasn't enough as their two runs wasn't enough to overcome the three-run deficit they faced heading into the final inning of game one. Claire Owens, Harley Grady, and Jada Sellars each hit one out singles to start the rally for Post 48 with Sellars picking up an RBI while Natalie Morris also added an RBI groundout. After dropping game one, Chesnee Post 48 bounced back in the second half of the doubleheader to take game two by a score of 7-5. Claire Owens got Chesnee Post 48 off to a fast start in the bottom of the first inning with a leadoff triple before later scoring on a Harley Grady RBI single. Grady would later steal second and score on Jada Sellars RBI double as Ansley Blanton drive in Sellars with a two out RBI double of her own for a 3-0 lead. Post 45 answered back in the top of the second inning with a two out solo shot by Gracie Dehart to cut the Post 48 lead to 3-1. Chesnee once again got a spark from the speed of Claire Owens after she drew a walk, and later stole second before scoring on Jada Sellars second extra base hit of the game, this time a RBI double. Inman responded once again in the top of the third inning as Kenslie Edwards hit a leadoff single and stole a pair of bases before scoring on Lillian Wilson's RBI sacrifice fly. Leah Taylor followed with a double and later scored on Bella Ballanger's two-run home run to tie the game. Post 48 reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning as Rhylee Malott hit a two out RBI double. The top of the fourth inning saw big moments by both teams as Post 45 got three straight singles from Gracie Dehart, Myah Salters, and Kenslie Edwards to start the inning as each advanced one base on Lillian Wilson's RBI sacrifice fly to cut the Post 48 lead to one run. The key moment for Post 48 came when shortstop Kyndall Brill fielded a liner just before it hit the dirt and threw to third base to turn an inning ending double play. Harley Grady and Jada Sellars once again paired up to plate another run for Post 48 as Grady hit a single and stole second before scoring on Sellars' third extra base hit of the game, this one a double to give Post 48 a 7-5 lead. Kyndall Brill once again came through for Post 48 in the field in the top of the fifth inning, this time in the circle, as she sent Post 45 down in order to pick up the save. Sellars had a strong night for Post 48 as she picked up the win in game two in the circle as well as going five for six at the plate with four RBIs, three extra base hits including a triple while scoring a pair of runs. "There is a lot of teams who would love to have Jada Sellars play for them," said Fogle. "I'm glad she is one of ours instead of having to go against her." This American Legion softball season will benefit the Chesnee softball program for years to come as every player on the Post 48 team played in the Chesnee High/Middle system last season, and all but one player will return at some level next season. "Everyone that has played this summer has gotten better," said Fogle. "Our girls got great experience playing against some tough competition and it will only benefit us going forward as a program." Chesnee Post 48 and Inman Post 45 now wait for the playoff brackets to be released to see when and where they begin the playoffs next week. INMAN, S.C. – The magic number for Inman Post 45 to claim the league championship was one entering a doubleheader on Friday against the Spartanburg Post 28 Mustangs. The two sides ended up with a split as Inman shut out Spartanburg 7-0 in game one, winning the League Five championship and a top seed in the playoffs.
In the latter contest, Spartanburg held on for a 9-6 win over Inman. Jacob Cogdell got the nod for Post 45 and worked around a one-out runner in the first with a grounder that turned into an inning-ending double play. Three innings later, the right-hander tallied two more punchouts along with a groundout. Cogdell posted another stellar showing, as he held Spartanburg to three hits while recording seven strikeouts in a complete game effort. “He goes out there, throws zeroes on the board, and just keeps doing it,” said Inman coach Mark Line about Cogdell. “He’s been amazing. I’m really proud of him and what he’s accomplished for us. He does it matter of fact – goes out there, pitches, and gets people out.” In the bottom of the first, a Luke Compton leadoff triple and Johann Rodriguez double to left gave Inman an early lead. Rodriguez scored on a Corben Childers base hit to left, while Ricky Montalvo drove in two more runs with a single to center for a 4-0 Inman lead. Post 45 added a pair of runs in the second as Hudson Wilson plated a run with an RBI base knock, while Perry Dyer drew a bases-loaded walk to push across another run. Compton crossed home plate in the third on an RBI fielders’ choice, which provided the final margin. “Winning a championship is important,” stated Line. “The team picture that goes on the wall in the Legion hut after the season will have ‘League Champions’ on it, with their faces in it. That’s an important thing. Twenty years from now when they come back to a legion meeting, they’ll see their names on the wall as league champions. They may not understand the ramifications quite yet, but they will.” Between games, the Inman baseball team was visited by head coach Steve Skinner, who has been away this season due to medical reasons. Throughout the entirety of the 2023 season, the team has had him on their minds. “That was a really good thing for the kids,” Line remarked. “We saw Coach Skinner make his way down to the dugout around the fourth inning and it gave everybody a boost. He’s been in our prayers for over a month now and it looks like he’s doing great. He feels good and we were just so happy to have him back.” “The boys have been putting his number (22) on their helmets. We’ve written his name (on a lineup card) in every dugout we’ve been in this year. He is Inman American Legion baseball and we’re proud to be part of it. We’re trying to keep it going until he can get back full-time.” GAME TWO – Spartanburg 9, Inman 6 What started out as a pitchers’ duel quickly evolved into a slugfest between the two sides. Spartanburg plated a run on an RBI single, but Corben Childers’ fourth inning solo home run tied the game at one. After the Mustangs took a 7-1 lead in the top of the fifth, Post 45 responded in their half of the inning with five runs on six hits, featuring a bases-loaded double by Rodriguez that helped cut the deficit down to one. However, Spartanburg scored twice in the seventh on a pair of Inman miscues to pick up the three-run victory. Inman (9-3) will have some time off before returning to action in the first round of the SCALB playoffs, which are slated to begin on July 10th. INMAN, S.C. – It’s often said that a double play is a pitcher’s best friend because it’s twice as helpful.
A strong showing in the field played a key role in a big night for Ricky Montalvo, who accomplished a special feat in baseball lore as Inman Post 45 claimed a 10-0 victory over Buffalo Post 87 in six innings. Following a leadoff walk in the first, Montalvo induced a ground ball to the right side of the infield that was fielded by Jarren Metcalf and converted into a double play. Two innings later, Metcalf corralled a chopper and turned two the 4-6-3 way to end the frame and erase a Buffalo threat. “It was 100 percent trust,” Montalvo said about Metcalf, his former high school teammate at nearby Chapman High. “There was no doubt at all. I knew he was going to make every single play when it was hit to him. I’m trusting in my guys (defensively).” “It’s been incredible seeing (Ricky) come back from college and seeing how much he's transformed,” stated Metcalf. “He was able to grind through that game. We have always had his back, even through high school. You’re taught to field a ground ball going down or coming up… I charge (at the ball) until it makes me stop.” The defensive display continued in the fourth as Hudson Moss tracked down a swinging bunt along the third base line for an out. The next Buffalo batter smacked a ball that was bound for right field, but first baseman Kaden Roach speared it and threw over to Perry Dyer at second, doubling off a runner for the third out. “It’s a huge relief,” Montalvo remarked about the defense. “When I walk a guy and put a man on first, all I can think about is ‘Dang, I could’ve done a lot better’. After I get a contact hit and our infielders make a double play, it’s a big stress reliever. That’s big time by them.” During the final two frames, Dyer made two pivotal plays down the stretch. In the fifth, a hot shot was scorched back towards center field, but the Inman shortstop hustled over and made a sharp throw to first for the final out of the frame. Later in the sixth, Dyer fielded a two-hop chopper and fired over to first for the second out of the inning. The web gems added up and helped Montalvo toss a no-hitter in his longest outing of the 2023 campaign. “The kids really played well tonight,” said Inman coach Mark Line. “Ricky was outstanding obviously, but the defense was good in turning three double plays. We hit the ball enough and I really liked the way we were running the bases. It doesn’t hurt when you turn double plays. Every pitcher I’ve ever known has loved double plays.” Roach provided some early run support for Post 45 in the first with a two-run double to right-center, driving in Johann Rodriguez and Aaron Sewell (courtesy runner for Hudson Wilson) for an early Inman lead. Cason Owens and Luke Compton each drew a bases-loaded walk in the third, which made for a 4-0 Inman lead. A string of four straight hits with two outs in the fifth – including RBI base knocks for Rodriguez and Wilson – extended the Inman advantage to eight. In the bottom of the sixth, an Owens single and Compton sacrifice fly to left ended the contest by mercy rule and provided the final margin. At the plate for Post 45, Compton reached base safely four times, going 3-for-3 with a run scored and two runs batted in. Roach was 3-for-4, while Wilson went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Owens finished 2-for-3 with two runs batted in. Inman (8-2) will have a quick turnaround as they will host Spartanburg for a doubleheader on Friday at Jim Everhart Field, slated for a 5 PM start. CHESNEE, SC- Chesnee Post 48 and Cowpens Post 125 split a doubleheader in American Legion softball on Thursday evening.
Post 48 took game one by a score of 4-2. Claire Owens started off the bottom of the first with a leadoff single and later stole second. She would score on Jada Sellars' RBI double. Natalie Morris would plate Sellars with a RBI single to give Post 48 a 2-0 lead after one inning of play. Another lead off hit would plate another run for Post 48 in the bottom of the 2nd. This time Loren Potter hit a leadoff triple, and later scored on Brandolin Bearfield 's RBI single. That run would prove pivotal as Cowpens Post 125 struck back hard in the top of the third as a one out double by Kourtney Caraway set up Elizabeth Vitale for a deep two run blast well over the score board in left centerfield to make it 3-2 still in favor of Post 48. Claire Owens would once again use her speed to help out Post 48 in the bottom of the fourth as she drew a leadoff walk. She would later steal second, advance to third on a passed ball, and score on a wild pitch to make the score 4-2 in favor of Post 48. Jada Sellars picked up the complete game win in game one for Post 48. Sellars threw five innings of two run ball while giving up four hits, and striking out three batters. In game two, Cowpens Post 125 used a huge eight run first inning on the way to a 11-1 three inning win. Elizabeth Vitale got the scoring started with a RBI single and Brooke Caraway followed with a two RBI single. Ashley Caraway hit a three RBI inside the park home run, and Sarah Vitale hit a RBI double. Sarah Vitale did more damage in the top of the third with a RBI single, and later stole home on a double steal. Brooklyn Jennings also scored on an error in the inning. Natalie Morris drove in the lone Chesnee Post 48 run with a RBI sac fly in the bottom of the third. Chesnee Post 48 will be back in action on Thursday, July 6th when they host Inman Post 45 to conclude the regular season as the first pitch for game one is set for 6:00pm. -Andrew Eison UNION, S.C. – A busy week for Inman Post 45 resumed on Wednesday with a trip along Highway 176 to face Buffalo Post 87 at the Timken Sports Complex. A good night at the plate and a solid pitching performance helped Inman claim an 11-4 victory over Buffalo.
The first two Inman batters – Luke Compton and Johann Rodriguez – each drew a free pass to start the game, putting two on with none out. Compton stole third and sprinted home on a Buffalo miscue, while Rodriguez scored on a Kaden Roach sacrifice fly, staking Inman to a 2-0 lead midway through the opening frame. Inman right-hander Corben Childers found a groove on the mound, striking four of the first five batters that he faced. Childers later struck four of the next six Buffalo hitters, which spanned the third and fourth inning, “He was dominant,” said Inman coach Mark Line. “He was throwing it past people and that was a strong outing for him. If you get good pitching, you’ve got a chance to win. It’s been nice for us recently to put a guy out there and get a strong five or six (innings) out of them.” Ricky Montalvo, Perry Dyer, Cason Owens each notched a base knock in succession to load the bases for Inman in the second. Compton smacked a single to right that drove in Montalvo, while Dyer crossed home plate on a bases-loaded walk to Rodriguez. Owens scored from third on a double play, followed by a Roach double to left that plated Compton for a 6-0 Inman lead. “Tonight, it was more of trying to stay on the pull side,” Roach recalled. “When I tend to try and go to the back side (opposite field), I’m sometimes late. I was trying to make sure I wasn’t going to be too late and got the pitches that I needed, too. I think this shows we can hit the ball and It’s always great to help our pitching by putting up the runs that we have.” “In my first two at-bats, I was trying to stay short and drive it up the middle,” Dyer said. “Sometimes, you just hit (the ball) in the right place and nobody’s there. It’s a lot of fun playing with this group and I’m glad that I got the chance to play with them.” Buffalo cut it down to a 6-4 score with two runs apiece in the second and third innings that featured a trio of RBI base hits. Childers responded by sitting down seven of the final 10 Buffalo batters he faced on strikes, finishing the game with 13 punchouts over six innings of work. “Nothing was working in the second and third innings... but I flushed that and kept going,” stated Childers. "(My mentality was) to do what I know to do and stay loose out there. We’ve got a very important three games coming up (on Thursday and Friday).” A Compton RBI single in the fourth drove in Montalvo, followed by four more runs in the fifth – including a Childers RBI single – to provide the final margin. At the plate for Post 45, Dyer reached base safely in all four plate appearances, going 3-for-3 with a run scored. Roach was 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and two runs batted in, while Compton finished the night 2-for-4 with two runs batted in. Montalvo also recorded a base knock and scored twice. Aaron Sewell also threw a scoreless final frame for Post 45, tallying three strikeouts of his own. “We ran the bases really well,” Line added. “We made them make a couple of mistakes and we’ve got fast kids. Jarren Metcalf is amazing, and Perry (Dyer) has good speed, as does Luke (Compton). We’ve got some kids that can really run, so we try to put pressure on people, and it worked tonight.” “You can’t forget Sewell – he comes in and gets people out. He doesn’t strike a bunch of people out, but he just gets people out and has been solid all season for us.” Inman (6-2) will have a quick turnaround as they will host Buffalo on Thursday at Jim Everhart Field, slated for a 7 PM start. AMERICAN LEGION SOFTBALL While the baseball team was coming away with a victory, the Inman Post 45 softball team split a doubleheader against Anderson Post 20 at home on Wednesday night. They fell in the first game 4-2 but rebounded for a 2-1 victory in the second game. The softball team will return to action on Thursday at Gaffney before wrapping up their regular season next Thursday at Chesnee before awaiting their playoff seeding that will begin July 10th. |