Micklon goes deep twice, P-15's crush Cheraw 12-1

Keith Gedamke / The Item Sumter shortstop Bruce Caldwell steps up on second base for an inning-ending force of Cheraw's Garrett Foreman in the P-15's 12-1 victory on Tuesday at Riley Park.

By DENNIS BRUNSON
Item Sports Editor
dennisb@theitem.com

In his last two at-bats against Cheraw Post 23 on Tuesday at Riley Park, Sumter's Tony Micklon was somewhat perturbed with himself for letting two fastballs go down the middle of the plate without as much as a swing.

However, the P-15's right fielder got hanging curveballs over the middle of the plate on the next pitch of each at-bat and deposited them over the wall for home runs to lead Sumter to a 12-1 American Legion baseball League III victory in a game called after seven innings due to the 10-run mercy rule.

"I couldn't believe I let those pitches go by," said Micklon, who finished 2-for-3 with three runs scored and three runs batted in. "I guess it ended up good at the end."

It really started off good for Sumter as well as it put up five runs in the first inning against Cheraw starting pitcher Aaron Miller. The P-15's, who beat Post 23 29-0 last week in Cheraw, finished with 11 hits.

"I was pleased with the way we played offensively," said Sumter head coach Wallie Jones, whose team improved to 16-3 in League III and 18-4 overall. "Micklon had a big night with the two home runs and Tyler Smith got one. Tyler Broome came off the bench (to start in left field) and had two hits. We hit pretty well up and down the lineup."

Blake Graham led off the bottom of the first with a base hit, moved to second on a walk to Jeremy Buckner and scored on a Bruce Caldwell single. After an out, Michael Blackmon, who went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI, singled to load the bases. Patrick Gordon walked to force in a run and make it 2-0.

Broome followed with a two-run double and Josh Hayden had a sacrifice fly to make it 5-0.

That would be more than enough for P-15's starter Jordan Montgomery. The left-hander, who improved to 4-1 on the season, worked five innings. He allowed five hits and struck out four while walking one and allowing one unearned run to Cheraw, which fell to 8-10.

Gibson Klapthor pitched two perfect innings to close out the game for Sumter.

"Jordan was kind of shaky early, but still should have got out of it with no runs scoring," Jones said. "He got better as the game went along. Gibson came in and threw strikes and that's what we ask of them. He's been working on a changeup and he did a good job with that."

Sumter pushed across two more runs in the second. After two were out, Caldwell and Micklon drew walks before scoring on a Blackmon single to make it 7-1.

Micklon hit a two-run shot in the fourth to push the lead to 9-1. Smith hit a solo shot in the fifth to make it 10-1 and Micklon led off the sixth with a solo homer to make it 11-1. Blackmon followed with a double and scored on another Hayden sacrifice fly.

Sumter plays at Bishopville on Thursday beginning at 7:30 p.m. in its regular-season finale. Cheraw, which is battling Manning-Santee for the final playoff spot from League III, plays at Bishopville today beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Reach Sports Editor Dennis Brunson at dennisb@theitem.com or (803) 774-1241.