Dillon's #5 Weston Bailey singles in the bottom of the sixth on Monday against Wade Hampton. (Photo by Johnnie Daniels/THE DILLON HERALD.)
After falling 6-1 to Loris on Saturday, the Wildcats were facing elimination as they headed into Monday’s game against Wade Hampton. The Red Devils held a 6-0 lead in the top of the sixth, and Dillon scored their only run in the bottom of the inning when Weston Bailey hit a hot one by the short stop for a single. Bailey stole second while Jarvis Graves was at bat and stole third while Patrick Herring was at bat. Herring hit a fly to right to bring in Bailey, but the next batter pop a foul one at home for the third out. Wade Hampton scored again with a home run in the top of the seventh to seal the win at 7-1.
Meanwhile in Class 2A, Loris deliver a 7-2 loss to Bishop England to advance to the lower state championship. Wade Hampton is scheduled to travel to Bishop England on Wednesday for an elimination match.
In Class A, Lake View and Latta squared off for a shot at the lower state championship, with Lake View taking a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first and picked up three runs in the third for a 5-0 lead. The Vikings got on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth, and added four runs in top of the fifth to tie the game at 5-5. Latta got the winning run in the top of the eighth to advance to the championship, sending Lake View to the elimination bracket on Wednesday.
Johnsonville was facing elimination on Monday night, but managed a 4-1 win over East Clarendon. Johnsonville will travel to Lake View on Wednesday night at 6:00 p.m.
In softball action, Dillon’s Lady Wildcats shut out Silver Bluff 7-0 to stay alive in the lower state playoffs. Dillon will travel to Barnwell on Wednesday night in another elimination bracket battle. Barnwell fell 10-3 to Waccamaw on Monday, while the Warriors advanced to the lower state championship.
In Class A, Latta earned a 4-3 win over Johnsonville in nine innings to stay alive in the playoffs. Latta took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second, but Johnsonville picked up three runsin the top of the sixth. Latta tied things with one run in the bottom of the inning, and after scoreless seventh and eighth innings, and with two outs in the ninth, Latta’s Madison Owens singled to score Kyra Grant for the win.
Meanwhile, Lake View’s Lady Gators struggled against East Clarendon, falling 7-0 as the Wolverines’ Leslie Altman pitched a complete game two-hitter. East Clarendon picked up three runs in the third and four in the sixth for the win, and moved on to the lower state championship.
Latta will travel to Lake View on Wednesday night at 6:00 p.m. to determine which local team will face East Clarendon for the lower state title.
Be sure to pick up today’s issue of THE DILLON HERALD for more coverage of the first round playoff games and pick up Thursday’s issue for more coverage of Monday night’s action. Also, be sure to check our Sports page online here at thedillonherald.com for photo galleries from local playoff games!
