Latta’s #2 Brady Hatchell gets a base hit to left field in Saturday’s win over Branchville. (Photo by Craig Brown.)
The Latta Vikings downed Scott’s Branch 16-0 in the first round of the Class A District VIII baseball playoffs on Thursday and earned a 7-0 win over Branchville on Saturday to advance to the district championship.
On Thursday, Latta picked up 12 runs in the bottom of the first inning and added two each in the second and third to seal the win.
Jackson Williams pitched three innings for Latta, giving up just two walks with eight hits. Dalton Lane pitched two innings with no hits and six outs. Scott’s Branch had three pitchers make an appearance, giving up a total of 18 walks. Lesone took the loss, pitching one inning for two hits, eight runs, seven walks, one wild pitch, and one out. Cawty gave up two hits, two runs, two earned runs, and six walks in 2.1 innings, and Tiwdel pitched two-thirds of an inning for six runs, five walks, one hit by pitch, and one out.
At bat for the Vikings, Jackson Williams went 1-for-1 with a triple and one RBI, also reaching on two walks; Caleb Mishue went 1-for-1 with one run; John Kever Love went 1-for-2 with one RBI and one run; Cledus Williams went 1-for-2, also reaching on a walk, a hit by pitch, and an error; Aaren Hyatt picked up one RBI and stole a base on a fielder’s choice hit; Eric McGirt reached on an error and drew a walk for two runs; Jonathan Ray drew a walk and scored two runs with two stolen bases; Kevin Hargrove drew a walk and scored one run with one stolen base; Dalton Lane drew three walks for two runs; Austin Miller drew two walks for one RBI and one run; John Malcolm George drew a walk for one run; Noah Moody drew a walk with one RBI and one run; Deonte Stanley drew a walk; McLeod Carmichael drew a walk with one RBI and one run scored; Daniel Khalil drew a walk with two runs; and Brady Hatchell drew two walks with two stolen bases and one run. Latta had just four hits in the win.
For Scott’s Branch, Tiwdel and Oliver each drew a walk in the no-hitter. The Eagles had two errors in the effort.
On Saturday, the Vikings hosted Branchville for a 7-0 win, scoring four runs in the first, two in the second, and one in the fifth.
John Kever Love got the win on the mound, giving up just two hits and two walks and striking out 10. For Branchville, Blake Peeples took the loss, pitching six innings for eight hits, seven runs, four walks, one hit by pitch, one home run, and three outs.
At bat for the Vikings, Eric McGirt went 2-for-3 for a double and a home run with two RBI and two runs scored; John Kever Love went 1-for-2 with three RBI and one run, also hitting a sacrifice fly; Caleb Mishue went 1-for-3 with one RBI; Cledus Williams went 1-for-3; Jackson Williams went 1-for-3 with one run and a stolen base, also reaching on an error; Austin Miller went 1-for-3; Brady Hatchell went 1-for-2 with one run, also reaching on a hit by pitch; Dalton Lane scored one run with a fielder’s choice hit; and Jonathan Ray scored one run with a stolen base. Latta had eight hits and two errors in the win.
For Branchville, Dylan Chavis went 1-for-3 and Drake Smoak went 1-for-1 with Andrew Lunsford and Hunter Watkins each getting fielder’s choice hits. John Connor and Harthe Blakenship each drew a walk. The Yellow Jackets had three errors in the effort.
The Vikings improved to 16-5-2 overall and will host the District VIII championship game on Wednesday night against the winner of Monday’s elimination game.
