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TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE LAURENCE MANNING ACADEMY VARSITY BASEBALL TEAM, COACHES, AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS FOR AN OUTSTANDING SEASON AND TO CONGRATULATE THEM FOR WINNING THE 2016 SOUTH CAROLINA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL ASSOCIATION CLASS AAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE.
Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly is pleased to learn that the members of the Laurence Manning baseball team of Clarendon County took top honors at the state competition held at Riley Field on Saturday, May 21, 2016; and
Whereas, to the cheers of their exuberant fans, the Laurence Manning Swampcats defeated Wilson Hall 4-3 to capture the team's first state trophy since 2002; and
Whereas, Laurence Manning dropped the first game of the championship best-out-of-three series to Wilson Hall's Barons 6-4 and was trailing 3-2 in the ninth inning of the second game; and
Whereas, the Swampcats' Ryan Touchberry led off with a double and scored a run that tied the game at 3-3, and teammate Morgan Morris was on second base with two outs when Braydon Osteen hit an RBI single to clench the second game; and
Whereas, at the bottom of the seventh inning in the third game, Laurence Manning was down 3-2 again when Swampcats Morgan Morris and Cole Hair both led off the inning with walks; and
Whereas, when Taylor Lee came to the plate for Laurence Manning, Morris and Hair were able to score off of a wild pitch that Wilson Hall unsuccessfully argued was not a live ball for a 4-3 finish; and
Whereas, with a team consisting of three seniors, two juniors, five sophomores, and one freshman, the Swampcats posted a remarkable 25-6 record for the season and denied the Barons their third consecutive state championship; and
Whereas, the victory was made doubly sweet for the Swampcats because the Laurence Manning softball team also won the state championship series; and
Whereas, in a sport that demands strength, strategy, and quickness, Head Coach Barry Hatfield and his skilled coaching staff maximized their own athletic ability and training to mold a championship team and teach these athletes lessons that will prove invaluable through life both on and off the diamond; and
Whereas, the members of the South Carolina General Assembly appreciate the pride and recognition that the Laurence Manning baseball players have brought to their school and their community and look to hear of their continued achievements in the days ahead. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, recognize and honor the Laurence Manning Academy varsity baseball team, coaches, and school officials for an outstanding season and congratulate them for winning the 2016 South Carolina Independent School Association Class AAA State Championship title.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Principal Tripp Boykin and Coach Barry Hatfield.
This web page was last updated on May 26, 2016 at 2:50 PM