Larry Hewett/Clarendon Citizen
Post 68 downs Dalzell, posts loss to Camden
After having its season opener against Sumter rained out on Monday, Manning-Santee got its 2010 American Legion baseball campaign off to a good start with a 7-2 win over Dalzell, Tuesday night at Monarch field.
Zan Beasley picked up the win on the mound, pitching 8-2/3 innings while keeping the visitors scoreless until the ninth frame. Trevor Morris came on in relief and retired the final Post 175 batter,
Manning-Santee jumped on Dalzell starting pitcher Michael Waddell early, scoring five runs in the first two innings. Ericson Coker singled with one out and got into scoring position when Joey Brunson reached on an error. Morris put the home team up 1-0 with a two out RBI base hit. Justin Huggins then drove Brunson and Morris home with a clutch two-out, 2 RBI single making it 3-0.
Bill Wheeler opened the bottom of the second with a base hit, stole second, and took third on a balk. Aubrey McFadden unloaded with a triple that plated Wheeler. Ericson Coker collected his second RBI as he singled home McFadden.
Waddell settled down over the next couple of innings, at one time retiring nine straight Post 68 battlers.
Manning-Santee scored a single run in its half of the fifth inning when Brunson doubled home Heath Smith who had walked.
M-S manufactured its final run when they executed a textbook delayed double steal in the eighth. Trevor Morris began the inning with a single and one out later advanced to third on a T.J. Bradley base hit. As Waddell delivered a pitch to the next batter, Bradley broke for second and stopped, enticing a throw from Post 175 catcher Matt Johnson. As Bradley was caught in the run down, Morris headed home and crossed the plate making the score 7-0.
Dalzell finally scored a pair of runs in the top of the ninth, but it was too little and too late.
For the night, Post 68 collected ten hits, two each by Coker, Morris, and Wheeler. Beasley had eight strikeouts along with four walks, surrendering only two runs on four hits.
Camden beats Manning-Santee 9-5
CAMDEN – Manning-Santee absorbed its first defeat of the season Thursday night, dropping a 9-5 decision to Camden. The loss evened Post 68’s record at 1-1.
Kevin Cox started on the mound for M-S and was tagged for six runs on eight hits through six innings.
Manning-Santee led briefly as Joey Brunson delivered a 2-out RBI double which scored Heath Smith.
Camden evened things up in the bottom of the second then saw Post 68 re-take the lead with a single tally in the third.
Post 17 took control of the game as the home team rallied for four runs in the fourth inning, then added a single run in the fifth before breaking it open with a 3-spot in the seventh.
Trailing 9-2, Post 68 crept closer by putting three runs on the board in the top of the eighth, but fell short. Trevor Morris, Matt Mayes and T.J. Bradley fueled the rally with back-to-back hits.
*Manning-Santee’s make-up game against Sumter was cancelled again Wednesday due to rain and the Friday evening contest against Hartsville was called due to lightening.
