The Latta Vikings took a 4-0 loss from the St. Joseph’s Knights in the first game of the 2014 Class A State Baseball Championship series.
It was the sixth shutout win in seven playoff games for the Knights, who have allowed just two points in the post season in the District II championship against McBee.
St. Joseph’s took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on Monday with Alex Malsch reaching after being hit by a pitch. He beat the throw from first to second and advanced to third on a sacrifice hit from Sterling Turmon. David Marable followed up with an RBI single to the left to score Malsch to give the Knights the lead.
Latta’s Josh Bowen reached as far as second in the first inning, and John Kever Love reached third in the second after leading off with a double, but neither could cross the plate.
The Knights scored again in the bottom of the third for a 2-0 lead and held off the Vikings until the top of the sixth. With one out, Latta’s Travis Power singled and Donell Stanley walked to put two runners on bases, but St. Joseph’s Ryan Stamler got a grounder and a pop up out of the Vikings to end the threat.
The Knights capped the win with two runs in the sixth.
Stamler earned the win on the mound for the Knights, allowing five hits with one walk while striking out eight. Christian Hendrix took the loss for Latta, striking out three.
St. Joseph’s had seven hits in the win, with Turmon and Mark Estes each getting two, and Marable had two RBI. Malsch and Estes each had one RBI.
Latta had four hits in the effort, two each from Power and Love.
Latta coach Don Cribb said the St. Joseph’s cashed in on every opportunity they had while Stamler and the Knights defense took them away from the Vikings.
St. Joseph coach J.B. Barwick said the score didn’t reflect how tough the game was. “It was a battle for seven innings. It’ll be tough Wednesday, too.”
Latta, now 22-4, was set to host St. Joseph’s on Wednesday night. A win for the Vikings would force a third game on Friday at a neutral site.
