The Latta Vikings came up short for the Class 2A state baseball title on Tuesday, May 16, in Latta 11-1 in 6 innings against Fox Creek who won the very first title in any sport since the school began in 2004.
Peyton Doolittle picked up the win for Fox Creek while going the entire 6 innings. He allowed 5 hits, walked 1, struck out 3, and allowed 1 earned run.
Dylan Brewer began the game for Latta on the mound and took the loss. He pitched 2.2 innings and allowed 6 hits, walked 2, struck out 2, and allowed 5 runs of which 1 was earned. Hunter Sawyer pitched 1 inning and allowed 2 hits, walked no one, and allowed 2 earned runs. Noah Henderson pitched 2.1 innings and allowed 3 hits, walked 2, struck out 1, and 4 earned runs.
Latta is accustomed to winning but the realization that another baseball state title had eluded them was felt by those in attendance.
The Latta Vikings suffered a long evening of agony in the defeat at the hands of a team who played great baseball on this day. In my opinion, the Latta Vikings did not play to the standard I have witnessed in previous games this season.
Latta not only suffered at the plate with only 5 hits but also in fielding while committing 6 errors while Fox Creek had 11 hits and only 1 error.
Fox Creek jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning and with the bases loaded in the top of the second inning, Simeon O’Meara lined into a 1-5-3 triple play to stop any more scoring in that inning. Fox Creek added 2 more runs in the top of the third inning to go up 5-0 over Latta before the Vikings managed to place the lone run of the game on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third inning.
The Vikings’ Jason Norton connected for a single on a grounder to the shortstop M. Ray. Deonte Stanley hit a hard grounder to the center fielder Simeon O’Meara, and Norton advanced to second.
McLeod Carmichael hit into a fielder’s choice to the shortstop M. Ray.
Norton advanced to third, and Stanley advanced to second. Russ Rogers grounded into a double play to the shortstop M. Ray, and Jason Norton scored for Latta. Fox Creek scored 4 runs in the top of the fourth inning and 2 more runs in the top of the sixth inning.
The Vikings’ Cledus Williams connected for a double in 2 at-bats while Deonte Stanley was perfect at the plate with a single in 1 at-bat. Daniel Khalil and Jason Norton each singled in 2 at-bats while Dylan Brewer also singled in 3 at-bats. Fox Creek’s Neko Williams connected for a triple, 2 singles, and a rbi in 4 at-bats while Hunter Seger managed 3 singles and a rbi in 4 at-bats. Ryan Gregory connected for a double, a single, and 3 rbi in 4 at-bats.
H. Boyette managed 2 singles and a rbi in 3 at-bats while Cam Mitchem singled and picked up a rbi in 2 at-bats.
Not only is the Town of Latta proud of the Vikings baseball but also the entire county is proud of the team.
PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by Johnnie Daniels/The Dillon Herald
Click once on a photo to bring it into a single screen, and then again to enlarge.
