After picking up wins in preseason tournaments, Latta’s Lady Vikings opened the regular season with a 9-7 loss to Aynor on Monday night in varsity softball action.
The Vikings played in two preseason tournaments, with the first played at Freedom Florence on Saturday, February 21. Latta earned a 15-0 win over Hannah-Pamplico in the opening game, but fell 7-4 to Sumter in game two. But the Vikings earned a 12-1 win over Johnsonville in the third round, and shut out Chesterfield 4-0 in the final game.
Latta also hosted a preseason tournament, earning a 2-1 win over Chesterfield on Friday, February 27. On Saturday, February 28, the Vikings shut out Loris 10-0 and took a 7-2 win over Carvers Bay and a 13-2 win over Marlboro. But Johnsonville won the tournament with a 12-2 win over the Vikings in the final round.
The Lady Vikings opened the regular season at Aynor on Monday, March 9, and took a 3-0 lead over the Blue Jackets in the top of the first.
Kyra Grant grounded out to open the inning, but Camryn Sawyer, Madison Owens, and Macy Hyatt each singled to load the bases. Kaleigh Caulder hit an infield fly for the second out but Dori Webster doubled to score all three runners. Webster advanced to third on a passed ball, but Genesis Anderson flew out to end the inning. In the bottom of the inning, Aynor reached on a hit-by-pitch but one out and two grounders ended the inning early for the Blue Jackets.
Kurstin Hopkins singled to open the top of the second, but an out at bat and two flys sent Aynor to bat. After two batters grounded out, the Blue Jackets reached on a single, advanced on an error, and reached third on a stolen base, but Webster struck out the next batter to end the threat.
Madison Owens opened the third with a solo home run to boost the Viking lead to 4-0, and Hyatt reached on a single before going out on a fielder’s choice from Caulder. Webster and Anderson both hit grounders to end the top of the inning.
Aynor reached on a walk in the bottom of the third, but the runner went out on a fielder’s choice. The Blue Jackets drew a walk to advance the runner, and a double sent her home to leave Aynor trailing 4-1 at the end of three.
Hopkins led off the fourth with a single for the Vikings, and Casey Prescott reached on a walk. Grant flew out, but a single from Sawyer helped bring Hopkins home for a 5-1 lead before a fielder’s choice from Hyatt ended the threat. The Vikings held off the Blue Jackets in the bottom of the inning, getting outs on a grounder and a fly with Webster striking out the last batter.
Caulder singled to lead off the fifth, and a sacrifice bunt from Webster advanced Caulder to second. Anderson doubled to score Caulder, advanced on a grounder from Brooke Carter, and scored on a single from Maddy Long. Aynor ground out twice to open the bottom of the inning before reaching on two walks and a hit by pitch to load the bases before the last batter flew out.
With the Vikings up 7-1 at the top of the sixth, Sawyer reached on a double and Owens singled to put runners on second and third. A fielder’s choice from Hyatt put out Owens, and Caulder hit a sacrifice but reached on an error. Hopkins and Anderson flew out to end the inning for Latta.
In the bottom of the sixth, Aynor reached on an error and a double put runners on second and third. A walk loaded the bases, and a single brought in the runner at third. A second walk scored another runner and left the bases loaded, and a grounder and an error allowed two more runs for the Blue Jackets. A fielder’s choice gave Aynor their second out but also allowed a fifth runner to score with two left on base at first and second. A triple brought both runners home, and a double scored the last runner to put Aynor up 9-7.
The Blue Jackets held off the Vikings in the top of the seventh to seal the win, with Hopkins hitting a fly, Prescott striking out, and Grant getting a grounder.
Latta’s Dori Webster gave up four hits, four runs, three walks, and one earned run on the mound in 4.2 innings, striking out three. Kurstin Hopkins gave up two hits, five runs, four walks, and two earned runs in one inning of relief.
The Blue Jacket pitchers allowed a combined total of 14 hits, seven earned runs, one walk, one home run, and two outs.
At bat for the Vikings, Madison Owens was 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBI, one stolen base, and two runs scored; Camryn Sawyer was 3-for-4 with one run; Macy Hyatt was 2-for-4 with one run; Kurstin Hopkins was 2-for-4 with one run; Dori Webster was 1-for-3 with three RBI; Kaleigh Caulder was 1-for-3 with one run; Genesis Anderson was 1-for-4 with one run and one RBI; and Maddy Long was 1-for-1 with one RBI. The Vikings had 14 hits and three errors in the effort.
Aynor had six hits and one error in the win, with a team total of nine RBI and seven walks.
The Vikings are off to a 7-2 start and were scheduled to be at West Florence on Wednesday.
Latta will be at home this Friday at 6:00 p.m. to host Aynor, and on Monday, March 15 to host the Dillon Wildcats.
