The Lake View Wild Gators returned home on Saturday, May 6, with a 10-3 win over Branchville in varsity Class A lower state baseball playoffs in Branchville.
Lake View’s Brent Herlong pitched 6 and 1/3 innings, struck out 11, and walked 1 to get the win.
Lake View jumped out to an early 1-0 in the top of the first inning. However, Branchville scored 3 runs in the bottom of the first to take a 3-1 lead. Neither team managed to get a run on the scoreboard in the second inning. Lake View tied the game in the top of the third while pushing 2 runs across home. Lake View tacked on 2 runs in the top of the fourth inning to take a 5-3 lead. The Wild Gators added another run in the top of the sixth inning and 4 more in the top of the seventh inning.
Lake View did not commit any errors in the game while Branchville was guilty of 6.
The Wild Gators managed 12 hits in the game while holding Branchville to 3.
Hunter Stevens was perfect at the plate connecting for a double, a single, and 2 rbi in his 2 at-bats for Lake View. Justin Elliott was also perfect at the plate with a double and a single in his 2 at-bats. Duane Nichols garnered a double and a single in his 4 at-bats while Stone Spivey connected for 2 singles and a rbi in his 4 at-bats. Nick Collins and De-Ante Bridgett each had a single and a rbi in 5 at-bats.
Lake View is 20-2 for the season.
Lake View will play the winner of Hannah-Pamplico/Branchville on Wednesday for the lower state championship.
