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Latta’s Lady Vikings Claim Lower State Title with 7-1 Win
Latta's #2 Tori Grimsley hits to to right for an inside the park homer. (Photo by Johnnie Daniels/THE DILLON HERALD.)
The Lady Trojans were undefeated in Region 8A, but after defeating Latta twice in the regular season, the Lady Vikings won their first playoff encounter 5-3 on Monday, May 7. Green Sea-Floyds then faced East Clarendon on Wednesday for a 7-6 win for another shot at Latta.
The Trojans kicked things off with a run in the first inning, but Latta’s Chelsea Welty hit a solo homer in the first to tie the game 1-1 until the bottom of the third. Latta added two runs there, then picked up another in the bottom of the fourth to lead 4-1. The Lady Vikings sealed the win in the fifth, adding three runs and holding off the Trojans for the final score of 7-1.
Latta’s Anna Rogers picked up the win on the mound, pitching seven innings for five hits, one run, two walks, and nine outs. Green Sea’s Hope Elliot took the loss, pitching five innings for nine hits, seven runs, seven earned runs, three walks, and seven outs.
Macy Hyatt led the Vikings at bat, going 3-for-4 with three RBI. Chelsea Welty went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and an RBI, and Tori Grimsley went 1-for-2 with an inside-the-park home run and an RBI. Dallas Sweat also went 2-for-4 for the Vikings, who had 10 hits and one error in the win.
Ashley Ham led the Lady Trojans at bat, going 2-for-3. Paige McDaniels went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Green Sea-Floyds had five hits and one error in the loss.
Latta’s record improves to 19-4 overall, while Green Sea-Floyds finishes the season 18-3. The Trojans’ only losses came from Latta and North Myrtle Beach.
Latta will face Chesterfield’s Golden Rams in the state championship series. For Latta, it will be their first state title appearance since 2006. The Vikings had four straight title shots from 2003 to 2006, but fell to Indian Land in each instance. Chesterfield is 17-3 overall as they head into the series. The Rams have been to the championships three times in the last five years, winning the series in 2008 and 2010.
The Rams swept through the District III playoffs, downing Blackville-Hilda 11-1, Dixie 4-1, and Blacksburg 4-0 to advance to the Lower State playoffs. In the opening round, the Rams defeated Fox Creek 7-3, but they fell 2-1 to the 2011 state champs Abbeville. Chesterfield faced Landrum for a 3-1 win on Wednesday for another shot at Abbeville, and on Friday, they defeated the Panthers 5-4 to force a second game. The Rams then proceeded to edge Abbeville 2-1 for the Upper State title.
Due to rainy weather Monday, Chesterfield will host game one of the State Title series tonight at 6:00 p.m. and Latta will host game two on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. If a third game is necessary, it will be held at a neutral site on Friday, May 18. Be sure to check thedillonherald.com for the latest playoff updates!
View the photo gallery of the Class A Lower State Championship game by clicking here!
BASEBALL
In the Class A baseball tournament, Lamar defeated Johnsonville on Wednesday for a shot at Bamberg-Ehrhardt, and proceeded to defeat the Red Raiders 8-5 and 4-3 on Friday to claim the Lower State title.
In the upper state, St. Joseph’s advanced to the Upper State title game after defeating Chesterfield 4-3 on Monday. The Golden Rams defeated Ninety-Six 10-2 on Wednesday, and shut down St. Joseph’s 6-1 on Friday to force a second game. But St. Joseph’s held off the Rams and scored just one run for a 1-0 win for the Upper State Title.
St. Joseph’s was scheduled to host Lamar tonight, and Lamar will host on Thursday in the state title series.
