Post 1 clinches League II championship

FLORENCE — The Florence American Legion baseball team wrapped up the League II championship by beating Murrells Inlet 13-6 on Wednesday in the first game of a doubleheader and swept the twinbill with a 10-0, run-ruled victory in the second game.

Kyle Johnson was 2-for-4 in the opener, including a three-RBI double, and Tyler Boyd and Charlie Abbott each homered to help Post 1.

Robbie Brown pitched five innings to get the win.

“We had some offensive problems when we played in the North Carolina-South Carolina tournament, but ever since then we’ve really come around,” Post 1 coach Derick Urquhart said. “We’re swinging the bats well, the pitching continues to be outstanding and everybody is contributing.”

Charlie Abbott (4-1) made quick work of Murrells Inlet in the nightcap, allowing just three hits without a walk.

Florence scored three runs in each of the first two innings. Abbott had two hits and Chandler Smetana had an RBI.

“It’s nice to go ahead and wrap up the league title, but we still need to play well to get ready for the playoffs,” Urquhard said. “We’re still going to use our starting pitchers because they still need to be on rotation.

“We’re not going to change our approach. We’ve still got to be prepared.”

Late Tuesday, Post 1 beat Shinnston (W. Va.) 18-4. Hunter Gregg pitched four innings and allowed only an unearned run to get the win and four players had at least three hits.

First game
Florence 13, Murrells Inlet 6

MI 004 000 2 — 6 10 1
F 144 112 x — 13 12 0

WP — Robbie Brown (5-1, 5 IP, 4 R, 4 ER, 8 H, 2 K, 1 BB).
LP — David Aldridge
LEADING HITTERS — MI: Jason Tomlinson 2-3, R, RBI, 2B. F: Tyler Boyd 3-3, 2 R, RBI, HR, 2B; Charlie Abbott 2-3, 2 R, RBI, HR; Chandler Smetana 2-4, RBI, 2B, R; Kyle Johnson 2-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2B.

Second game
Florence 10, Murrells Inlet 0 (5)

MI 000 00 — 0 3 4
F 332 02 — 10 7 1

WP — Charlie Abbott (4-1, 5 IP, 3 H, 1 K, 0 BB)
LP — Jesse Nelson
LEADING HITTERS — F: Charlie Abbott 2-3, 2 R, 2B; Chandler Smetana 1-2, 2 RBI, R.
RECORDS: F 16-3, 13-0.
NEXT GAME: Florence at Conway at 7 p.m. Friday