2/4/10
American Legion ball holds annual Bowl bash
By Cathy Gilbert

LARRY HEWETT/Manning Times

Manning-Santee Legion Baseball provides young men from across Clarendon County the unique experience of playing upper level ball. This Sunday, the team will again host a Super Bowl party as a fundraiser for the team. The event will be held starting at 6 p.m. at the Cypress Center in Manning. Pictured here are #28 Heath Smith, #11 Hunter Holliday, #6 Mike Keels, Catcher Dyson Coker, #10 Aubrey McFaddin, Zan Beasley and Cameron Bosewell.

One. Two. Three strikes … you’re out … but not if you join the American Legion Post 68 Manning-Santee Ball Club for their sixth Annual Super Bowl Bash fundraiser.

It’s an all you can eat, watch ‘til you drop Super Bowl party, all for a very good cause.
Doors open at 4 p.m. and kickoff is at 6 p.m. at the Cypress Center in Manning.

Your $50 ticket not only gets you one season pass to all the Post 68 home games, but includes a delicious dinner of sausage and chicken pilau, catfish stew and of course, barbecue.

“We’ve got John Allen Mahoney and Glen Baron making their world famous (and spicy) catfish stew and pileau,” said Head Coach and event organizer G.G. Cutter. “We’ll also have some great barbecue donated by Henry Brailsford from D&H and he’s bringing the rice and some delicious banana pudding.”

Cutter said others will bring hors d’oeuvres and other desserts.

“If you leave hungry, it’s your own fault,” he said.

There will be a large projection screen and several large screen televisions so everyone will have a front row seat.

According to Cutter, the program he’s been involved with for more than 10 years, takes about $12,000-$15,000 to run each year.

“We have equipment, uniforms, umpires, travel, gas, food and insurance to cover,” Cutter explained. “We try to feed our players well on the road.”

Cutter said the club is now supporting two teams, none of who have to pay to play. The Super Bowl party is the team’s only fundraiser.

“We started our junior team about three years ago and we are having great success with them,” he said. “We have some terrific players coming up to the senior level.”

American Legion has given a baseball opportunity to many young men in Clarendon County.

Manning native Lee Tabor is now playing AAA ball as a pitcher with the Louisville (Illinois) bats, marking his fourth season in professional baseball.

Glenn Murray, also of Manning, has played over 1,500 games in the minor leagues. Cutter easily rolls off a list of names that have played legion ball.

“Freddie Gamble Ned Darley, Eric Blackwell, Conrad Kellahan. They have all had the Legion ball experience take them places,” Cutter said. “Last year’s standouts Sebie Kirkland and Drew Watcher are playing for Francis Marion University and USC-Sumter respectively.

“It’s a good program and the guys learn a lot and get to play with players from other schools,” Cutter said.

This coming season, slated to begin in late May, will mark Cutter’s twelfth turn as head coach, a post he took over from County Recreation Director LeBon Joye in 1999. Post 68 garnered a state championship in 2002 and a regional championship in 2003.

“The people of Manning have been so supportive of us over the years and we are so appreciative,” he concluded.

So come on out for some good food, good fellowship and good football to support a great baseball team.

Doors open at 4, kickoff is at 6. For tickets, contact G.G. Cutter (435-8815), Bill Brewer (473-3135) or A.C. English (433-4451).