Sumter Post 15 makes emphatic statement in closing out Murrells Inlet

A series that failed to go according to script through three games added another wrinkle Monday night, providing a dominant conclusion courtesy of Sumter Post 15.

The P-15s battered the Murrells Inlet Post 178 pitching staff to the tune of 20 hits, allowing them to cruise to an 18-5 victory and a berth in the state American Legion Baseball tournament.

“We already had an automatic berth locked up, but it is something we didn’t tell our players,” said Sumter Post 15 manager Steve Campbell. “We had a bunch of goals that we wanted to accomplish, and we wanted to earn our spot into the tournament and not just be given it as a host. Up to this point, we’ve achieved them; playing in the state American Legion Baseball tournament is an honor to be a part of each year.”

Serving annually as the tournament’s host site, Sumter’s place among the final eight teams in the state was already secure. Post 15, however, wanted no parts of simply being given the right to play with the best this state has to offer this season.

The series’ previous three games being decided in the final few innings, Game 4 served as the anomaly, with the P-15s using a five-run first inning to instantly put Murrells Inlet on its heels. In the opening frame, Sumter brought nine men to the plate, making starter Fox Wagner pay for his inability to throw strikes.

Post 178 would temporarily make a game of it in the second, doing much of the same to Sumter’s Rylan Williamson. Closing the gap to 5-3, it seemed the scene was setting for yet another wild affair between the teams.

That was not to be, though, as Post 15 took all the suspense out of the contest by scoring a total of 11 runs in the third and fourth innings.

“We came out flat, and thought we’d made a game of it after scoring three runs in the second,” said Murrells Inlet Post 178 manager Thomas. Sheehan. “But when you’re down like that, you can’t trade runs. Eventually playing that game is going to do you in.”

With the game, series and a berth in the state American Legion Baseball tournament locked up, there was no dogpile or celebration –the team choosing instead to shake hands with their opponents and each other, relieved to see this series end.

“Trust me, this series was a good entertaining one,” Campbell said. “Murrells Inlet pushed us in each game, it’s just that this one our guys came in wanting to end this series tonight, and they did just that.”

Murrells Inlet’s quest for the state tournament is not done though. It will join Horry Post 111 and Camden Post 17 in a three-team playoff to determine which of them will earn the fourth team representing the Lower State in the event.

“Knowing that was coming up, I kind of threw in the white towel tonight, saving my pitching for what could wind up being two more nights of games,” Sheehan said. “This series is done, unless we make the tournament we likely won’t be playing them again. But we have to turn the page on tonight, and move forward to (Tuesday night).”

This story was originally published July 18, 2016 at 11:42 PM with the headline "Sumter Post 15 makes emphatic statement in closing out Murrells Inlet."