After several delays due to weather and other concerns, the Latta Preseason Softball Tournament finally commenced on Friday, with Dillon, Latta, and Lake View all getting wins.
Only the pool games were played, and each was limited to one hour to ensure that all games could be played. No games were played on Saturday due to the weather.
Latta played in just two games, but won both, shutting out Lake View 6-0 and defeating North Myrtle Beach 11-1.
Johnsonville played two games, falling to Hannah-Pamplico in the first but defeating McBee in the second. Hannah-Pamplico fell to McBee in their second game, and tied Green Sea Floyds in their third.
Lake View fell to Latta in their first game, but defeated Carvers Bay and North Myrtle Beach, while Dillon defeated Green Sea Floyds and Loris, but fell to Chesterfield in game two.
Green Sea Floyds fell to Dillon in game one, tied with Hannah-Pamplico in game two, and defeated Loris in game three.
Chesterfield won both of their games, defeating both Dillon and Loris, while Carvers Bay fell in all three games, losing to North Myrtle Beach, Lake view, and McBee.
The loss to Latta will likely only intensify the rivalry between the Wild Gators and the Vikings as Lake View and Latta will both once again be strong contenders for the state title. Last season, Latta lost to Lake View in the lower state championship game.
This season, the Vikings lost three seniors but will return their core team from last year, including Anna Rogers, Chelsea Welty, Raven Baxley, Allison Moody, Dallas Sweat, Mikenzi Caniglia, Sarah Lane, Paige Lovett, and Taylor Cox. Coach Michael Rogers, who boasts a 326-159-3 record in 21 seasons, says the Vikings will need to improve offensively as the season progresses. He added that the team has some young kids pushing for starting spots, giving the team a little friendly competition and spurring them to try harder. Last season the Vikings finished 21-9-1.
Lake View made it all the way to the state championship last season, finishing with a 29-5 record after a loss to Abbeville in the championship series. The Wild Gators lost several key players, including Avonlea Cooke, Brittany Floyd, Chessie Miller, Sierra Sports, and Morgan Wethington, as well as coach Chad Huggins. Brandy Huggins will be taking over coaching duties for her first year of coaching.
Returning to the team are Kateland Cox, Morgan Herlong, Ashley Rogers, Kayla Sanderson, Chelsea Spivey, and Kayce Wong. Coach Huggins says they’ve had to make some adjustments to cover key positions left by the departing seniors, but that the returning players are willing to take on new roles. “Everyone is coming to practice working very hard day in and out on the field and in the batting cages,” she said.
Both Lake View and Latta ranked in the top 10 in Class A, with Lake View placing fourth and Latta in fifth. Chesterfield ranked second, McBee was seventh, and Hannah-Pamplico was ninth, along with East Clarendon in sixth. Defending champs Abbeville topped the list.
In Class 2A, the Wildcats will be returning seven starters, including Shaquailla German who was a key player last season, pitching for an 11-3 record with a 1.04 ERA, with a .442 batting average, five home runs, and 34 RBIs. Also returning are Tara Grimsley, Darby Hamer, Shayna Covington, Rebecca Callahan, Dallas Rowell, and Taylor Price. Covington made 39 runs last season with 23 stolen bases, Callahan had 28 RBIs, and Price had 20 RBIs. Price also pitched for a 5-1 record with a 1.40 ERA, and Hamer had 16 RBIs with a 4-3 record on the mound and a 1.52 ERA.
Coach Shirl Carter, in her eighth season, says that the Wildcats have the potential to do well if they are willing to work hard and stick together as a team. Last season the Wildcats were 20-8, dominating Region 8-2A with a 9-1 record but falling to Silver Bluff in the District VIII finals.
A recent poll from the South Carolina Softball Coaches Association ranked Dillon 10th in Class 2A. Central topped the list as the reigning state champs.
The regular season of softball action begins this week with Dillon scheduled to face South Florence tonight at 6:30 p.m., Latta at Johnsonville tonight at 5:30 p.m., and Lake View at Mullins tonight at 6:00 p.m. The Lady Wild Gators will be at home on Wednesday to host Green Sea Floyds at 5:30 p.m.
