Post 109 first baseman Bubba Wright receives congratulations after scoring the team's first run against Sumter in a state tournament game at Capital City Stadium on Saturday. Gaffney Post 109 was in an all too familiar spot at the American Legion state tournament - facing elimination after just two games.

For the second straight year, Post 109 packed their bags and headed home after a 9-1 loss to Murrell’s Inlet Sunday morning in an elimination-bracket game at Capital City Stadium in Columbia.

“It’s disappointing,” Gaffney manager Zach Clary said. “I thought we would put (Saturday’s loss) behind us, since we had to win this game. But our bats were quiet.”

Murrell’s Inlet’s bats’ were anything but quiet. After scoring single runs in the first and second innings, Murrell’s Inlet scored three times in the third and blew the game open with a four-run seventh.

Bubba Wright started and went five innings for Post 109. Jordan Garrett followed Wright to the mound and went two innings before giving way to Spencer Epps, who went the final two innings.

Gaffney scored its only run in the fifth on a double by Ryan Westbrook and a RBI single from Garrett.

After dropping its first two league games, Gaffney finishes the season at 19-8.

“The way we started out to come back and win our league was great,” Clary said. “But we fell short of our goal.”

Under a blazing sun Saturday afternoon, Sumter solved Gaffney starter Ryan Westbrook who lasted only five innings in a 9-6 loss.

Westbrook, though, helped out offensively, doubling in two runs as Gaffney cut the deficit to 6-4.

Epps had the big-blow in Post 109’s lone win, an 8-3 victory over Florence on Friday. Lee Gerwick, Wright and Jared Mills also had RBIs for Post 109.

Bobby Jackson pitched effectively, giving up just eight hits and striking out six over eight innings to pick up the win for Post 109.

Next season, Post 109 must replace some key pieces including Wright, Michael Hughey, Westbrook, Aaron Everett, Lee Gerwick and Jackson.

“We have to reload,” Clary said.