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Laurence Manning adds assistant coaches to staff

By David Shelton

Staff Writer

Manning – The Laurence Manning Academy baseball program has experienced a great deal of success over the last two decades, capturing a few state championships and making annual playoff appearances.

Current head coach Steve Belangia has guided the program for the last several years and has recently been awarded some help for his efforts. Laurence Manning athletic director Ken Kellahan recently announced the hiring of Billy Sylvester and Barry Hatfield as assistant baseball coaches for the program.

Both coaches come with impressive resumes. Sylvester, in fact, was an assistant at Laurence Manning before taking the head coaching position at Pinewood Prep last summer. After one season at Pinewood, Sylvester is back at Laurence Manning. He will also work with the junior varsity football team. Sylvester is a former professional pitcher in the Atlanta Braves organization.

Hatfield is the former head coach at Lakewood High School and led his program to numerous playoff appearances. He also will coach football and work with the middle school program.

“Those are two big additions to the baseball program,” said Kellahan. “Coach Hatfield and coach Sylvester are outstanding baseball coaches and our players will certainly benefit from their knowledge and experience. Billy was here before and did a great job and we’re happy to have him back.”

Kellahan is beginning his sixth year as the athletic director and head football coach at Laurence Manning. He says the athletic program is on solid ground and feels with the current crop of athletes in the program that success can be plentiful this coming year.

“Our numbers are holding steady overall, thank goodness,” said Kellahan in response to enrollment. “I believe our numbers in athletics will be fine. We’re not losing any kids that we already have here. I think all the private schools are in the same boat. We may not be gaining students but we’re not losing the one’s that are already here. I expect a very good year for us in athletics.”

Kellhan says the remaining coaching positions within the program will be the same as they were a year ago, with the exception of volleyball. At presstime, Kellahan says the volleyball position was open.

Will Epps will return as the boy’s varsity basketball coach and will coach golf in the spring. Mike Lowder is set to return as the girl’s varsity basketball coach.

Charlotte Herod will coach girl’s tennis this fall and Greta Corning will work with the junior varsity girl’s tennis team.

Maria Rowland will return to coach cross country in the fall and coaches the varsity softball team in the spring. Heather Hodge is the junior varsity softball coach.

Ben Herod is the track coach and Tripp Boykin is the boy’s soccer coach in the spring.

Lucy Smith directs the varsity cheerleading squad while Robin Page heads up the junior varsity squad.

“Our coaching staff is a good one. They work hard and they relate well to the athletes,” says Kellahan.

 

ood speed. I think they're finally gelling together as a team with their new coach, and they're playing good football."
   Laurence Manning has lost three consecutive games and four of the last six contests.
   After a 21-14 loss at Augusta Christian on Sept. 18, the Swampcats defeated Orangeburg Prep (14-7 in overtime) and Pinewood Prep (21-8) before three straight losses to Heathwood Hall (38-27), Hammond (49-28) and Wilson Hall (34-33).
   The loss to the Barons was especially disappointing for Laurence Manning. Against their rival at Spencer Field, the Swampcats trailed 34-31 with 18 seconds remaining.
   Quarterback Josh Boykin, facing fourth-and-goal, ran for the score and Wilson Hall stopped the speedy quarterback just shy of the goal-line.
   "The final play of the game we had a chance to win it," said Kellahan, whose team recorded a safety on the ensuing play for the final margin of victory. "You can't ask for anything more than that. We just came up a little short. It was a great football game."
   Laurence Manning found success, as always, rushing the football.
Against Wilson Hall, the Swampcats amassed 317 yards on 60 carries, including 173 yards on 25 carries in the first half.
   "We've been playing well up front, so we took advantage of what we had over their defense and we had some success rushing the football," Kellahan said.
   Starting up front on the offensive line are Tyler Brown, Ryan Wynn, Player Chappell, Heath Smith and T.J. Bradley.
   Along with those stellar linemen, Laurence Manning has received quality production from the offensive backfield.
   Shane Green rushed for 154 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries. Green scored on a 4-yard run and 2-yard run in the second quarter.
Banks Lee totaled 103 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries. Lee had a 24-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and scored on a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter.
   Patrick Burns also added four extra points and kicked a 27-yard field goal at the end of the second quarter.
   While Kellahan was proud of his team's offense, the Swampcats' defense has been a bit of a bugaboo.
   The Swampcats allowed 319 yards of passing to Wilson Hall, and Laurence Manning is allowing 40.3 points per game the last three games after relinquishing just 13 points per game in the first six contests.
   A large part of that defensive ineptitude could be attributed to the increased competition, but Kellahan isn't using that as a ready-made excuse.
   "We're having a hard time getting off the field right now," Kellahan said. "We've got to improve in that area with our pass rush and playing better on third down."