HINES FURNITURE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Manning's Cantey uses arm and bat to take down Crestwood

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After violent storms blew through Manning last week, the Monarch baseball team was left trying to figure out how to remake its schedule.

In the end, they managed to host Crestwood for a pair of region games on Friday and got a huge performance out of RJ Cantey on the mound and at the plate in a two-game sweep.

Cantey's lights out evening also helped him earn the Hines Furniture Athlete of the Week.

"Seeing that we're not really a giant school, it feels good to know that I have people that have my back," Cantey said.

Manning didn't have much time to practice last week after a tornado touched down in the city on Tuesday. Cantey wasn't bothered by the lack of preparation.

"Coach just gave me a call and said I would be on the mound," Cantey said. "I went in with the right mindset."

In the first game, Cantey threw three no-hit innings as the Monarchs rolled to an 11-0 win over Crestwood. He struck out six batters.

"I was just trying to go out there and compete, keep them off-balance and make them keep guessing," Cantey said. "Throwing strikes was a big part about it."

Head coach Justin Gandy said that performance on the mound was just business as usual for his sophomore pitcher.

"Every team he's pitched against this year, he's kept us in the game. There have been games where we didn't have his back and didn't field, but that didn't mean he wasn't doing his job," Gandy said. "He's really emerged as one of the leaders on this team even though he's just a sophomore. We knew ever since he first came out for baseball that he could be a big-time contributor for this program. It's all there for him, and he has the ability to keep getting better every year."

Cantey appreciates that support from his coaches.

"It feels good to know Coach has my back," Cantey said. "I'm going to do my best to have his on the mound and throw my heart out."

Manning went on to win the second game 9-1. Cantey finished the day with three hits, three runs scored and three RBIs.

"I just go to the plate with a mindset that I know I have to execute with runners on base," Cantey said. "I just had to drive them in."

While Cantey's bat has come along nicely this season, Gandy said the best thing about Cantey offensively is his ability to get around the diamond. He's one of their best baserunners.

"He can really fly around those bases, and he's a real smart baserunner," Gandy said. "We normally try to get a pinch-runner for our pitchers, but a lot of times I tell him he has to run because he's one of our best runners and we can't afford to take him out."

After a difficult week, the sweep of Crestwood was exactly what the Monarchs needed.

"The weather got us pretty good, so it felt good to get those wins over Crestwood," Cantey said. "We haven't done the best this year, so it was a good confidence booster for me and the team."