Manning-Santee ends season with 13-3 loss to Gaffney

The Manning-Santee Post 68 American Legion baseball team’s up-and-down season came to an end Tuesday night, in the fourth round of the state tournament.

Post 68 faced Gaffney on a wet and dreary night at Goose Creek High School and ended their season with a 13-3 loss.

Manning got off to a quick start and held a 3-1 lead in the middle of the third inning.

However, a few quick hits from Gaffney gave them easy scores that tied the game and then they could not be stopped the rest of the way.

“Gaffney’s got a good hitting team,” said Head Coach G.G. Cutter. “Tonight just wasn’t our night. Plays that we should have made, we didn’t.”

Gaffney pitchers only allowed six hits for Manning.

Michael Keels and Douglas Ard each had two hits and Jack Martin and Heath Smith both had singles.

Brothers Michael and Jamal Keels and Zach Graham all scored runs on the night.

With the loss, Manning ends its 2011 season with a 20-15 record.

Cutter said he is proud of the way his team showed character throughout the up-and-down year and fought its way through adversity.

“Nobody expected us to be here but I was proud of the boys and the way they battled,” he said. “I can’t ask for anything else. We’ve got a good group coming back and good group coming up so our goal next year is to get here again.”