Florence’s Post 1 earned a 15-2 win over Manning-Santee on Wednesday night and a 14-0 win on Thursday to earn a spot in the American Legion state tournament for the 10th straight season.
On Wednesday, Post 1 traveled to Manning to take on Post 68. Post 1 scored five runs in the second inning and took a 6-1 lead, but Manning held them until the seventh inning, when Florence scored four runs. Post 1 capped the win with five runs in the eighth inning to lead the best-of-three series 2-0.
Dillon’s Weston Bailey hit a two-run double in the second inning and Latta’s Jackson Williams reached on a walk. McLean Hartz had an RBI single in the inning, and Steven Calcutt and Clay Martin both singled with Garrett Bevill reaching on a fielder’s choice.
Bailey reached on a hit-by-pitch in the fourth and was scored by a triple from CJ Hopkins. Hopkins doubled in the seventh, and Logan McRae, Bevill, and Williams each had RBI singles. Calcutt hit a sacrifice fly to score Bevill.
Ke’Shaun Samuel was the starting pitcher for Florence.
In Thursday’s 14-0 shut out, Hopkins went 3-for-3 with three RBI and Bevill was 2-for-4 with three RBI. Calcutt went 2-for-3 with one RBI, and Dillon’s Bailey scored four runs in the win.
Zack Newton started on the mound, allowing just one hit and striking out nine in five innings. Patrick Lovelace and Zack McKay pitched relief.
For Manning, William Ard took the loss on the mound while Steven Cox and Jared Hair each had one hit.
Florence Post 1 improved to 32-3 and will advance to the state tournament at Riley Park in Sumter beginning on Saturday, July 26. It is the 10th straight time Post 1 has appeared in the state tournament, and the team has made it to the state championship for the last two years. Post 1 claimed the state title in 2012.
Bevill, Post 1’s top hitter this season, also committed to Francis Marion after the win on Thursday. Bevill hit four home runs this season with 26 RBI.
