The Lake View Wild Gators claimed the Ashby Ward Division 1B championship in the Mingo Bay Baseball Classic last week.
In the first three games, Lake View fell 3-2 to Aynor and 6-3 to Robinson, Virginia. But on Wednesday, the Gators earned a 5-4 win over IMG, Florida, and were seeded in game 25 of the tournament against East Rutherford, North Carolina. East Rutherford took down the Gators 14-1, but Lake View defeated North Myrtle Beach 6-1 on Friday for the Division 1B title.
On Wednesday, Lake View picked up one runner in the first inning with Carson Rogers reaching on a single, advancing on errors, and scoring on a sacrifice fly from Justin Elliott. IMG scored in the top of the second, with Collier Rutledge singling, advancing on an error, and coming home on a single from Andion Fluherty and a fielder’s choice from Brett Tivnan.
Lake View pulled ahead with four runs in the bottom of the second, with Luc Newell and Carson Rogers each reaching on a single, Hunter Stevens drawing a walk, and Josh Price reaching on a double. A single from Elliott brought in Price to put the Gators up 5-1.
IMG picked up their last three runs in the top of the fourth, with Rutledge and Austin Batos each reaching on a single. Tivnan hit a triple and Sam Joyce singled to bring him in for the last run of the game.
Carson Rogers got the win on the mound, pitching a complete game for seven hits, four runs, three earned runs, and five outs. AJ Hennelargn pitched 5.2 innings for six hits, five runs, five earned runs, four walks, and two outs for IMG, and Coby Ghajor pitched a third of an inning.
At bat for the Gators, Carson Rogers went 2-for-4 with two runs scored; Price went 1-for-2 with a double, two RBI, and one run; Elliott went 1-for-2 with two RBi; Newell went 1-for-3 with one run; Connor Anderson was 1-for-2; and Stevens scored one run.
Rutledge was 2-for-3 with one Rbi and two runs to lead IMG and Tivnan went 1-for-3 with a triple and two RBI.
On Thursday, the Gators fell 14-1 to East Rutherford, scoring their only run in the bottom of the second inning as De’Ante Bridgett reached on a hit by pitch, advanced on a sacrifice bunt from Anderson and a single from Stevens, and scored on the next play.
Five Gators took a turn on the mound, with Brent Herlong getting the loss. Herlong pitched four innings for eight hits, nine runs, six earned runs, two walks, and three outs. Nick Collins pitched one inning for one hit, one walk, and one out; Duane Nichols pitched one inning for one hit, two walks, and one out; Webb Cardwell pitched one inning for two hits; and Stone Spivey pitched for two hits, five runs, five earned runs, and two walks. Herlong and Spivey both had one hit by pitch, and Spivey and Collins each had a wild pitch.
For East Rutherford, Adam Barnette pitched four innings for three hits, one run, one earned run, one hit by pitch, three walks, and five outs. Seth Lowery pitched three innings for two hits and one out.
At bat, Weston Rogers was 1-for-4 with a double; Nick Collins was 1-for-3 with a double; Carson Rogers was 1-for-4; Brent Herlong was 1-for-2; Hunter Stevens was 1-for-1 with one RBI; and De’Ante Bridgett scored one run.
Tucker Toney led East Rutherford, going 3-for-4 with three RBI and a double. John Bennett went 2-for-2 with one RBI; Matt Miller went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI, and two runs; Reece Oliver went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI, and two runs; Kaleb Green went 1-for-3 with two runs; Seth Lowery went 1-for-1 with one RBI; Cameron Hodge went 1-for-3 with one RBI and two runs; AJ Simmons went 1-for-3 with two runs; and Wesley Philbeck, Ethan Trull, and Cole Baldwin each scored one run.
In the Division 1B championship game on Friday, the Gators earned a 6-1 win over North Myrtle Beach with Lake View picking up two runs in the top of the first, three in the second, and one in the third. Weston Rogers reached on a walk, advanced on a passed ball and a grounder, and scored on a single from Elliott. Elliott advanced on a single from Herlong and scored on errors for a 2-0 lead.
In the second, Stevens reached on an error, Carson Rogers drew a walk, and Price singled to help the Gators to a 5-1 lead. Newell singled in the third, advanced on a passed ball and a single from Anderson, and scored when Carson Rogers and Josh Price drew walks.
North Myrtle Beach scored their only run in the bottom of the first with M. McGhee reaching on an error, advancing on a grounder and a wild pitch, and scoring on a passed ball.
Nick Collins pitched 3.2 innings for the Gators for three hits and two outs, and Weston Rogers got the save, pitching 3.1 innings for four hits, one run, two walks, and four outs. For North Myrtle Beach, Cole Gasque pitched 3.1 innings for five hits, two walks, and one out; Jeremy Vereen pitched 2.2 innings for six hits, six runs, one earned run, four walks, and one out; and Michael Genovese pitched one inning.
At bat for the Gators, Anderson and Herlong each went 3-for-4; Price and Elliott each went 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored; Newell went 1-for-3 with one run; and Weston Rogers, Carson Rogers, and Stevens each scored one run.
Lake View will be back in action this Wednesday night at Latta to take on the Vikings at 5:30 p.m. Make plans to attend to see some of the best baseball action in the state!
