Lake View fell to Dixie in the final game of the state championships. Here is a photo gallery by Johnnie Daniels/The Dillon Herald:
PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by Johnnie Daniels/The Dillon Herald
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The Lake View Lady Wild Gators lost a heartbreaker 7-6 to the Dixie Lady Hornets in game 3 of the state 1A softball championship played in Lexington on Friday, May 17.
The Lady Wild Gators began the game with 2 singles in a row but left both runners on base without a score.
In the bottom of the first inning, Dixie’s Weslyn Bensel, hit a double, rounded second, and was tagged out.
Dixie’s Caylee Brown, retired Lake View in 1-2-3 fashion in the top of the second inning.
Dixie’s Caylee Brown garnered a walk to start the bottom of the second inning.
Dixie’s Lauryn Foster hit one to left and #12 scored to give Dixie a 1-0 lead.
Dixie’s second baseman bunted safely. Dixie’s Lauryn Foster scored from third base on an attempted pick off. After 2 complete innings of play,
Lake View sent only 4 batters to the plate in the top of the third inning.
In the bottom of the third inning, one of the Dixie batters hit 1 between short and third for a single. A throwing error allowed the runner to score. Coach Huggins made some changes in the line-up including placing Grace Floyd as the new pitcher.
Errors had plagued Lake View in the second and third innings to give Dixie a 3-0 lead.
Lake View’s Baylee Miller garnered a walk to begin the top of the fourth inning. Kaylee Herlong arrived at first due to a throwing error after her bunt that placed runners on the corners for Lake View. Alex Elliot hit 1 up the middle for a single and a rbi that left runners on first and second. Lake View’s Emma King hit 1 over third base on the line for a single, and the bases were loaded. Lake View scored again on a fly ball to center to cut the lead to 1 run.
Dixie began the bottom of the fourth inning with a grounder by second for a single followed a walk to Wes. With the bases loaded Mackenzie Freeman hit a grand slam to give Dixie a 7-2 lead before Lake View could end the inning.
Lake View’s Baylee Miller hit a grounder by second for a single. Spivey Evans hit a grounder to the pitcher and was safe at first. The runners on
base advanced to second and third on a passed ball. A ground to short scored a run. A error on a fly ball to center scored a run. Milashia Wheeler hit a fly to left that was caught by the center fielder. Alex Elliot hit one to center for a double and runners were on second and third. An error on a hit to second scored 2 runs. After 4 1/2 innings Lake View had closed the gap to only 1 run. The Dixie Hornets were up 7-6.
Floyd retired Dixie in 1-2-3 fashion in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Raven Locklear led off the top of the sixth inning with a grounder to third and was safe at first. Spivey Evans bunted safely to place runners on first and second. The offense sputtered and the treat ended.
Dixie managed a double in the bottom of the sixth.
Lake View’s last at-bat could muster no offense, the young Wild Gators lost a close one.
Lake View finished at 22-6 for the season as Class A Lower State Champions.
Lake View’s Head Coach Brandy Huggins stated “They didn’t quit. We were down by 5 and kept battling. I am very, very proud of how they played today.”
Dixie’s Caylee Brown picked up the win. She pitched 7 innings and allowed 6 runs of which only 1 was earned, 9 hits, walked 2, and struck out 4.
Raven Locklear was charged with the loss. She pitched 2 and 1/3 innings and allowed 3 runs of which 1 was earned, allowed 4 hits, struck out 1, and walked 1.
Lake View’s Baylee Miller connected for 2 hits and a run in her 3 bats. Alex Elliott had 2 hits and a rbi in her 4 at-bats. Spivey Evans had hits and scored a run in her 4 at-bats. Emma King had a hit in 4 at-bats. Kryston James and Baxleigh Arnette each had a rbi.
Weslyn Bensel was perfect at the plate for Dixie. She had a double, 2 singles, and scored a run in her 3 at-bats. MacKenzie Freeman had a single and a grand slam home run with 4 rbi in her 3 at-bats. Lauryn
Foster had a double and a rbi in her 2 at-bats. Caylee Brown had a hit in her 2 at-bats. Arlana Krigbaum had a hit and scored a run in her 3 at-bats.
Dixie committed 4 errors in the game while Lake View committed 2 errors.
