With a roster that spans six schools, a mix of college and high school talent, and the largest turnout in recent memory, Manning-Santee American Legion Post 68 entered the 2026 season with optimism and lofty goals.
Post 68 opened its summer schedule June 2 with a 4-1 road loss to Sumter Post 15 at Riley Park, but head coach Greg King believes the foundation is in place for a successful season.
"What excites me the most is that we got a bunch of different type of guys from a lot of different places," King said. "We do have a good core, but we also have about six different schools all on the same team, so I'm just excited to see how these guys gel together."
That core includes returning players Sloan Harper, Rory Carter, Riley Jordan, Jaxon Baker, Grainger Powell and Bryson Pepper, among others.
The program carried 22 players into the season, a significant increase from last summer.
"We had about 15 or 16 last year, so I actually had to make cuts this year," King said. "That's a good problem to have."
King said one of the team's biggest strengths is its pitching depth.
"We'll have some guys this year that are pitcher-only," he said. "I believe we have a couple more big bats this year, but I'm really excited about our pitching rotation."
Building the roster required patience as several players were still competing in high school postseason play throughout May. Tryouts began May 16 and 17, but King said the team only recently had all 22 players together for practice.
Harper has already emerged as one of the team's leaders.
"He's been a part of this program for a couple years now, so he understands our expectations," King said. "His first day of practice, he took ownership and made everyone tuck their shirts in because that's the little things we expect here."
King said having college players such as Harper, now at Southern Wesleyan University, and Laurence Manning Academy graduate Rory Carter, who attends The Citadel, gives younger players examples to follow.
"It helps to have two veteran guys like them that are at the next level and can come back home and get these guys going," he said.
American Legion Baseball allows players ranging from rising freshmen to college athletes, creating opportunities for younger players to learn from veterans.
"It's going to be wonderful to have these young guys learn from these guys," King said.
King believes Legion baseball still fills an important role in player development.
"A lot of these guys, there's a new thing with travel ball, so this allows these guys to be seen without having to travel all over South Carolina," he said.
King, who played Legion baseball himself and is entering his fourth season as head coach after serving as an assistant since 2019, remembers growing up attending Manning-Santee games and hopes to continue that tradition for a new generation.
"That was one thing me and my buddies always talked about at the rec league," he said. "You always wanted to go to the Manning-Santee game to see the American Legion baseball team. That's just what you knew."
King said local businesses and sponsors continue to be the backbone of the program.
"Every big business in Manning, even the small businesses, they've been very, very good to us," he said. "We just want to do something to make this town proud."
The lessons King hopes players take away have little to do with batting averages or earned run averages.
"First off, just to be a man," he said. "Some of these guys go to work and then come to practice. They're starting to get a taste of the real world. We wear a patch on our shoulder for a reason, so we want to make sure we represent everything."
Asked about the team's goals, King didn't hesitate.
"State champions," he said. "That's the goal."
He also hopes the season creates recruiting opportunities for younger players looking to continue their baseball careers at the collegiate level.
To reach those goals, King said team chemistry will be critical.
"None of these guys really know each other," he said. "We have a handful that do, but we're doing some things to create some team chemistry so they can understand what we're trying to do. Just relax and play ball, and we'll be totally fine."
Post 68 is playing its home games this summer at Laurence Manning Academy while work continues on the field at Manning.
"We're very grateful to Laurence Manning for allowing us to use their field," King said.
Despite opening the season with a loss, Post 68 showed promise against Sumter. The team out-hit Post 15, with Powell collecting two hits. Pepper added a hit and an RBI, while Baker, Harper, Jordan and Carter each recorded a hit.
The schedule continues through early July and includes matchups with Florence Post 1, Beaufort Ospreys, Horry Legion Baseball, Moncks Corner Post 126 and Summerville Post 21.
More than wins, losses or championships, King hopes the program leaves a lasting impact on the players who put on a Post 68 uniform.
"We've got to keep this game alive, and I'm just trying to do my part," he said.
