FLORENCE — Post 1 is closing in on a playoff spot.
After switching to League II this season, Florence has remained unbeaten in nine games thus far.
Two more wins and Post 1 will clinch another postseason berth under coach Derick Urquhart.
“It’s rewarding, because we weren’t quite sure what to expect moving into a new league,” Urquhart said. “We’ve played Lake City and Conway in the past, but we’ve really played well in our our league games.
“Our pitching has carried us most of the year, and we’re starting to swing the bats well now, too.”
The lowest team earned run average posted by Florence under Urquhart came in 2006 at 3.55. Post 1 is set to break that mark with a 2.12 ERA, a far cry from the five-plus ERA the squad posted last year and the six-plus the year before.
“When you have a starting four of Charlie Abbott, Spencer Jordan, Robbie Brown and Spencer Matthews, it doesn’t get too much better than that in this league,” Urquhart said.
Abbott has been strong after missing last season with an injury. He’s 3-1 and had a 0.41 ERA entering Wednesday’s game against Conway.
Post 1 also is set to break last season’s home run mark. Florence belted 32 long balls last year and already has 21 this season.
“Our middle of the order has been about as solid as you could ask for,” Urquhart said. “Fourteen of our homers have come from Tyler Boyd, Cody Ritch and Spencer Jordan.”
All three are batting over .300 while Boyd and Ritch have combined for 33 RBI.
Battles for second
While Florence and Sumter both have sizable leads in their respective leagues, the battles for second place appear to going down to the wire.
In League III, Bishopville (7-4), Cheraw (5-5), Manning (5-7) and Camden (5-7) are all within 2 1/2 games of each other.
Bishopville and Cheraw play each other only once more (June 30), Cheraw and Manning meet once more (July 2) while Bishopville and Manning meet two more times. (June 29 & July 7).
In League II, Lake City is 5 1/2 games behind Florence, but is only a 1/2 behind Murrells Inlet and Conway for the second slot.
Extra game
Post 1 will play an extra game Tuesday as a makeup for an earlier rainout against Manning.
Florence will travel to Conway High School to take on Weinar Post 10 out of West Virginia at 7:30 p.m.
Conway and Lake City will also play the traveling squad on Thursday.
Did you know...
The last Post 1 player to hit three home runs in one game is Andrew Brockington.
Brockington belted three long balls in just eight innings as Florence defeated Mullins 18-7 on July 21, 1999, in the second round of state playoffs.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement