FORT MILL, S.C. — After getting close in 2019 and 2021, the Fort Mill Post 43 American Legion baseball team finally has a state championship to its name.
The Post 43 Juniors, an eighth seed in an eight-team tournament, completed a dramatic five-day, five-game run by defeating Lexington Post 7, 8-6, in the state championship game at Fort Mill High School. Fort Mill finished the season with a 17-5 record, with their championship journey being a story of perseverance, teamwork, and a last-minute head coach who brought it all together.
The championship game was a true back-and-forth battle. Lexington started hot, scoring two runs in the first inning off Fort Mill starter Carter Czapla. Fort Mill managed to get on the board when a Lexington error allowed Eli Wilson to get on base, eventually scoring on a Cooper Diehl single. However, Lexington extended its lead in the third, scoring three runs on three hits to make it 5-1 going into the fourth inning.
But the Post 43 team never wavered. In the fifth inning, Wilson walked and Brayden Grogan doubled him in. Diehl followed with another single to score Grogan, cutting the deficit to 5-3 and keeping Fort Mill within striking distance.
The decisive moment came in the bottom of the sixth. Down 6-3 after Lexington added another run, Fort Mill’s offense exploded. Matthew Scott led off with a double, James Carlin got on base followed, and Grey Kneidel knocked a double that drove in both Carlin and pinch runner Devon Pascarella. A Wilson single tied the game, and Michael Caropreso scored on a wild pitch to give Post 43 their first lead. Wilson then scored, capping the five-run inning and putting Fort Mill up 8-6 for the eventual win.
Pitcher Carter Czapla came back to finish the game, throwing a complete game masterpiece. He allowed six runs on eight hits, with no walks and six strikeouts, weathering the early storm to secure the program’s first state title.
The improbable run was guided by Head Coach Jott Blackwell, who took over the team just two days before tryouts. Hired after a coaching turnover, Blackwell quickly assembled a team that went 12-2 in the regular season. Though they lost their regional series, as the host team, Fort Mill was given an automatic bid to the state tournament as the eighth seed.
“When going through a long summer season, the boys tend to get caught up in the grind,” Blackwell said. “But they got to the post season and they say the Legionnaires showing up and all of the pomp that came with that. They rallied and saw that being a part of this team was more than just playing a game. All of our players put their high school rivalries aside to play together for the community.”
The tournament’s MVP, Michael “Chaos” Caropreso, embodied this spirit. Despite a rough tryout where his teammates’ recommendations were key to him making the roster, Caropreso led the team in stolen bases and consistently created opportunities for his team. “We know something is going to happen and he creates chaos for the other team,” Blackwell said.
In addition to the stellar pitching from Czapla, Zach Young, and Cole MacIntyre—who all threw complete games during the tournament—the team was led by a group of key players. James Carlin was the top hitter with a .394 batting average. Diehl finished the championship game 2-3 with two RBI, and Kneidel also had two RBI. Eli Wilson was second on the team with 21 stolen bases, proving that every player was critical to the team’s success.
“What made us successful was working with a group of guys who just love the game,” Blackwell said. “The future is bright for Fort Mill baseball. With more involvement, we can do well. Ultimately, we want the kids to have more opportunity to play.”
