Latta pitcher John Kever Love throws a strike against St. Joseph’s in the state championship series.
The Vikings were the Region 8-A champs last season, and shut out every team on the way to the District VIII title before claiming the Lower State Championship with a 7-5 win over Lake View. But the Vikings were shut down 4-0 and 3-2 in the state championship series by St. Joseph’s. Latta finished the season with a 22-5 record.
Head Coach Don Cribb, now in his second year with Latta, says the season ahead will be tough.
“It will be a tremendous challenge overcoming the loss of so many key players,” he said. “Our returning starters must play at an extremely high level and our first year starters, as well as the remainder of the team, must mature quickly and become solid contributors.”
The Vikings lost some key players last season, including the Class A Player of the Year Donell Stanley; North-South All Stars Christian Hendrix and Josh Bowen; and 2013 All-State pick Jeremy Jenkins. Hendrix and Travis Power both signed with USC Sumter.
But the Vikings will also return some strong starters in John Kever Love, Jackson Williams, Eric McGirt, and Colby Lee. Love pitched 36 innings for 51 outs on the mound last season and had 26 RBI. Williams had 21 RBI, and Lee and Love both had six doubles at bat.
Cribb also said he has some key new starters in Austin Miller, Daniel Khalil, Caleb Mishue, Cledus Williams, Dalton Lane, Brady Hatchell, Kevin Hargrove, Noah Moody, Aaren Hyatt, McLeod Carmichael, John Malcolm George, and Jonathan Ray.
The Vikings expect to be strong at pitcher and catcher, but have less experience in the outfield.
Cribb has over 35 years experience coaching and a total of 30 as head coach. His coaching staff lost Chris German this season, but added junior varsity coach Teddy Williams.
The Vikings will have some new opponents on the schedule this year, including Class 3A’s Hartsville and Class 2A’s Dillon Wildcats. Latta will also face some Class A rivals in Hannah-Pamplico and East Clarendon. The two teams played for the District VII title last year, with East Clarendon advancing to the lower state bracket, where they fell 4-3 to Latta.
In conference action, the Vikings will be facing new additions Hemingway and Carvers Bay. Latta shut out Hemingway 23-0 last season in the first round of the District VIII playoffs. The Vikings didn’t run into Carvers Bay last season, but Lake View played the Bears three times in the District VI playoffs.
Despite a tough season ahead, Cribb says he’s expecting great things.
“I expect us to become the very best team we can be based our ability, experience, and desire.”
