LAKE VIEW VARSITY AND JUNIOR VARSITY BASEBALL - Front Row (left to right): Peyton Cox, Webb Cardwell, Austin Tyndall, Caleb Andrews, Zachary Brunson, Jordan King, Stone Spivey, Hunter Stevens, and Delvon Bethea. Second Row (left to right): Jett Lewis, Blake Leggett, Cody Johnson, George Edwards, Christian McDaniel, Darius Ford, Jonathan Davis, Christian Scott, Justin Elliott, Roger Scott, and Nick Collins. Back Row (left to right): Connor Anderson, Tyler Davis, Duane Nichols, Weston Rogers, Luc Newell, Justin Davis, Josh Price, Carson Rogers, Jeremy Moody, Xavier Johnson, and Seth Jackson. Not Pictured: Brent Herlong. (Photo submitted. Click to view at full size!)
Last season, Lake View’s Wild Gators finished as the lower state runner-up with a 21-5 record.
This season, Coach Kip Herlong, now in his 21st season, says his goal is to attempt to get better each day at practice.
The Wild Gators lost six starters this year, including Chris Ford, Darius Leonard, Hunter Walters, Nate Lewis, Eric Munoz, and Steele Mendenhall.
“We lost six starters,” Herlong said, “so basically we need to fill all our key positions.”
The Wild Gators are still practicing to see who will be able to step up and fill the void. Herlong says his team has the most experience at shortstop, first, and second, but they lack experience in other critical areas.
But Herlong’s experienced team of coaches will be returning to help guide Lake View through a tough season. In addition to new opponents south Robeson and Marion, the Gators will be facing some of the toughest region play around.
“Everyone in our region is good, but Latta and Johnsonville will be stronger than most,” Herlong said.
Lake View, Latta, and Johnsonville all advanced to the lower state bracket last season, where the Gators defeated Johnsonville twice, but fell to Latta in the lower state championship.
The Wild Gators will kick off the season at home this Monday, March 10, at 5:30 p.m. against Mullins. Make plans to attend to support our local team!
