PHOTO GALLERY: Latta Wins State Baseball Title

VIDEO: VIKINGS RETURN TO LATTA
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PHOTO GALLERY OF GAME AND CELEBRATION
The Latta Vikings defeated Chesnee in the third game of the State Baseball Championship on Saturday at Lexington County Stadium. Here is a photo gallery from the game by Johnnie Daniels/The Dillon Herald.

PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by Johnnie Daniels/The Dillon Herald
Click once to bring a photo into a single screen, and then again to enlarge.

The Latta Vikings held on to win the 2A varsity baseball state championship 4-3 in the final third game of the series held at Lexington County Stadium in Lexington, S.C., on Saturday, May 19.
In the bottom of the first inning, Russ Rogers garnered a walk and quickly managed to advance to third on a pick-off attempt at first base. Pierce Watson also managed to garner a walk, and runners were on the corners with 2 outs. Deonte Stanley hit a grounder over third for a triple and 2 rbi.
In the bottom of the third inning Russ Rogers hit a grounder to second and advanced to second on the throw. Rogers managed to advance to third on a passed ball. Dylan Brewer hit a sac fly to right, and Rogers scored giving Latta a 3-0 lead that would hold until the top of the sixth inning.
The lead-off hitter, K. Miller, for Chesnee in the top of the sixth inning hit one over second that dropped in for a single. He immediately stole second. Johnson Williams hit one to center for a double and a rbi, and Chesnee was on the scoreboard and now trailed Latta 3-1. The scoring was not over as Nolan Hammett hit a grounder to right a single and a rbi, and Chesnee had closed the gap to only one run, 3-2. The scoring was still not over as C. Turner hit one between third and the shortstop fora single, and Chesnee had runners on first and second with one out. J. Foos hit one to center for a single and a rbi to knot the score at 3. Latta inserted Huner Sawyer as pitcher who got the final out in the inning.
Latta’s John Malcolm George arrived at first after striking out because the baseball got away from the catcher. With 1 out in the bottom of the sixth inning, Chesnee inserted Bo Walker into the game as the pitcher with a runner on first and 2 outs. Walker hit Kody Anderson with a pitch, and Latta had runners on first and second with only one out. Hunter Sawyer hit one up the middle that was bobbled, and the bases were loaded. McLeod Carmichael hit a sac fly to center for a rbi to give Latta a 4-3 lead with 2 outs. Russ Rogers was walked, and once again the bases were loaded with 2 outs. Brewer hit a fly to deep center to end the inning.
Latta managed to end the game with 3 up and 3 down in the top of the seventh inning.
Chesnee managed 9 hits in the game while Latta managed 5 hits. N Hammett manged 2 singles, picked up a rbi, and scored a run in his 3 at-bats while J. Foos singled and picked up a rbi in his 3 at-bats. D. Williamson connected for 2 singles in his 3 at-bats, and C.Turner, B. Seruggs, and B. Walker each singled in 3 at-bats. K. Miller also singled and scored a run in his 4 at-bats.
Latta’s Deonte Stanley connected for a triple, a single, and 2 rbi in his 3 at-bats. McLeod Carmichael and Dylan Brewer each picked up a rbi in 4 plate appearances. Hunter Sawyer singled in his 1 at-bat while Russ Rogers singled, garnered 2 walks, and score 2 runs in his 4 plate appearances. Kody Anderson and Chandler Nolan each garnered a walk in the game.
Hunter Sawyer claimed the win. He pitched 1 and one-third innings and did not allow a hit, a walk, or a run.
The Vikings’ starting pitcher, McLeod Carmichael, pitched 5 and two-thirds innings. He allowed 9 hits, walked no one, and allowed 3 runs that were earned.
B. Walker was tagged with the loss. He pitched only two-thirds of an inning and 1 hit, walked 1, and did not allow a run.
Chesnee’s Nate Lamb was charged with the loss. He pitched 5 and one-third inning and allowed 4 hits, struck out 5, walked 4, struck out 9, and allowed 4 runs that were earned.
Each team committed 2 errors in the game.