Florence Post 1 wrapped up their regular season last week with a win over Murrells Inlet and a loss to Sumter, finishing with a 21-4 record as they head into the American Legion playoffs.
On Wednesday, Post 1 hosted Murrells Inlet for a 6-3 win.
Murrells Inlet led off with a run in the top of the first, but Florence picked up three runs in the bottom of the inning. Lake View’s Weston Rogers got an RBI single, and Cal Butler also picked up an RBI, with the third run coming on a wild pitch.
In the second inning, Latta’s Jackson Williams hit into a fielder’s choice to put Florence ahead 4-1. Murrell’s Inlet closed the gap to 4-3 with RBI singles from Finn Melko in the third and fifth innings, but Florence sealed the win with runs in the seventh and eighth.
Patrick Lovelace got the win for Post 1, pitching eight innings for three runs, nine hits, five walks, and two outs. Lake View’s Josh Price pitched the scoreless ninth inning for the save. Butler and Grayson Cottingham led at bat with two hits each.
Jon Yarborough took the loss for Murrells Inlet, pitching six innings for four runs, five hits, five walks, and two outs.
Florence was scheduled to face Hartsville on Thursday night, but the game was rained out and was not scheduled to be made up.
On Friday, Florence wrapped their regular season play with a 10-9 loss to Sumter’s Post 15 in Sumter.
Florence fell behind 2-1 early on but tied the game with a sacrifice fly from Lindsey Robinson in the fourth. Post 1 added five runs in the top of the seventh, including RBI hits from Weston Rogers, Ke’Shaun Samuel, and Jackson Williams, for a 7-2 lead.
But Sumter responded with seven hits in the bottom of the seventh inning to take a 9-7 lead. Both teams picked up a run in the eighth, and Florence added on in the ninth to end the game trailing 10-9.
Williams had three hits in the effort and Weston Rogers had two hits and three RBI. Butler went 2-for-5 with two RBI, and Lovelace was 2-for-4.
Lake View’s Carson Rogers took the loss on the mound for Florence.
Florence is now looking towards the postseason, where they were scheduled to open the lower state playoffs on Monday night against Manning. The best-of-five series will continue this week with Florence at Manning tonight and Manning at Florence on Wednesday. If necessary, the teams will play again on Thursday in Manning and on Friday in Florence.
Florence Post 1 is the defending state champion in American Legion. Florence has played for the last three state titles and won twice.
Post 1 will be relying heavily on their deep pitching roster in the postseason, a roster that includes Lake View’s Weston Rogers, Carson Rogers, and Josh Price. The team also includes Latta’s Jackson Williams, Dillon catcher Patrick Herring, and Austin Moody.
The other lower state matchups include Orangeburg and Goose Creek; Sumter and Lexington; Murrells Inlet and Hartsville; Chapin-Newberry and Dalzell; Camden and West Columbia; and Horry and Lake City.
The seven winners of the first round best-of-five series will move on to the second round, with one team drawing a bye to the state tournament, which is set to begin July 25 in Sumter.
