P-15s edge Manning-Santee 2-0 in fourth season game

LARRY HEWETT/Clarendon Citizen - Manning-Santee Post 68 American Legion baseball player Jack Martin (left) tags out Sumter’s Calahan Kirkhart (right) in a rundown in their game Friday night. Sumter won the game 2-0 and swept the season series 4-0.

The Manning-Santee Post 68 American Legion baseball team faced Sumter for the fourth and final time Friday night and despite an 0-3 record against the P-15s, they had high hopes of winning the last one.

However, that grit began to slow and ended with a 2-0 loss Friday night at Monarch Field.

“I’m proud of our boys; they stayed in there and battled,” said Head Coach G.G. Cutter. “We are going to continue to battle.”

Sumter utilized their two-headed monster of pitcher Josh Kisamore and hitter Blake Graham.

The victory improves Sumter’s record to 15-1 while Manning-Santee drops to 9-7.

 Kisamore started on the mound for the P-15s and he threw a complete game allowing no runs, no walks, five hits and seven strikeouts.

He was over the plate the entire night. Manning batters never found their spot and were continuously retired.

“He’s a good pitcher,” said Cutter. “He did a good job tonight.”

Manning-Santee started Jamal Keels on the mound and despite not being a regular, he had a solid night.

He threw six innings accumulating five strikeouts, two walks and allowed one run.

It was not Keels’ first start but Cutter said his contribution did not go unnoted.

He was relieved by Rashad Murphy who finished the game with four strikeouts, four walks, two hits and one run.

“He’s settled down and tonight he did a good job,” said Cutter of Keels. “He comes in there and gives us what we need. He throws strikes and he’s a good little pitcher. We needed him to go and he went. (Rashad) Murphy came in and he, too, did a good job.”

Manning had its chances to score but left several men stranded and had missed opportunities that cost them runs.

Douglas Ard was on third in the second inning with one out but could not score and that was the story for the night.

 “It’s the story throughout the year,” said Cutter. “It was just like that. Until we can move runners over, we’re going to have to work on that.”

Chris Kellahan was the leading hitter for Manning-Santee as he went two-for-four with two singles.

Mike Keels, Jack Martin and Douglas Ard were other hitters for Manning.

“Chris has started hitting the ball in the last couple of games,” Cutter said.

The game was a pitcher’s dual and due to solid defense play on both sides, there was no score through the first five innings.

Sumter scored the first run of the game when Graham stole home and gave the P-15s a 1-0 lead.

They were threatening again when Zach Sherrill made his way to second but Manning got the final outs to end the inning.

J. Tyler Smith added another run in the ninth inning and Manning did not muster any offense in the bottom.

One bright spot was when Will McNair hit what appeared to be a scoring line drive.

However, it was snagged by the defender that killed the scoring hopes.

“We were inches away,” Cutter said. “That’s just baseball.”