By Craig Brown

The Latta High School Lady Vikings defeated Lake View’s Lady Wild Gators 6-1 in region play on Wednesday, March 25, in Latta.

Two of the best pitchers in the region were on the mound for the match up with Marissa Tyndall battling for the Wild Gators and Dori Webster getting the call for the Vikings. These two would likely get the starting nod for the majority of the teams in the state in all classes.

When these two teams get together it is all out war. The score does not actually represent the action as most runs scored by the Vikings were due to Wild Gator mistakes. The Vikings are loaded with talent this season and are a power house at bat and stingy on defense. The Wild Gators also have some good batters but are rebuilding on defense this year. But the talent seems to be there, so look for the Wild Gators to finish strong along with the Vikings when the playoffs start.

Ashley Rogers led off for the Wild Gators and sent a grounder to Dori Webster on the mound. Webster tossed the ball to Genesis Anderson at first for the out. Logan Spivey sent a line shot to right for a base hit. Webster struck out the third batter in the Gator lineup with Kayla Page getting to base on an error but Webster sent batter five down swinging to send the Vikings to bat.

Kyra Grant led off for the Vikings and sent a hard grounder to short stop where Logan Spivey made the throw out at first. Camryn Sawyer sent a ball to the left field fence for a triple. Madison Owens put the pressure on when she drew a walk and then stole second base. Tyndall fanned batter four and Jasmine Ford fielded a high fly hit ball by Kaleigh Caulder to get the Gators out of trouble, ending the first inning at 0-0.

The Vikings put the Wild Gators three up and out in the top of the second with Webster adding two strikeouts in the inning. Not to be outdone, Tyndall struck out the three batters she faced in the bottom of the inning to end the second with the score still 0-0.

Alex Elliot led off for the Wild Gators in the top of the third with a base hit past second base. Elliot would steal second to get her team in scoring position, but the Viking fielders put the next two Gator batters out on fly balls. Marissa Tyndall drew a walk but Webster sent the next batter down looking at strike three to get the Vikings out of trouble.

The Vikings had a big at bat in the bottom of the third inning with base hits by Dori Webster, Kyra Grant, Kaleigh Caulder, and a triple by Camryn Sawyer. Macy Hyatt sent a hard shot to short stop that took a bad hop on Logan Spivey to score D’Anna Tanner, who was pinch running for Webster, and Grant to put the Vikings ahead 2-0. Tyndall posted three strikeouts in the inning.

The Viking infielders put the Wild Gators three up and out in the top of the fourth. The Wild Gators tried to catch the Vikings off guard with two bunts but the Viking infield played smart to get the runners out.

The Vikings added two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning with Kurstin Hopkins getting to base on a hit to left field and advancing to second base on a fielder’s choice bunt by Grant. Sawyer doubled to left field, sending Hopkins in for run three. Madison Owens scored Sawyer with a deep hit to centerfield. Jasmine Ford ended the inning, fielding a high hit fly ball by Macy Hyatt, but the Viking lead was now 4-0.

The Wild Gators went three up and out in the top of the fifth to send the Vikings back to the plate. Kaleigh Caulder led off for the Vikings in the bottom of the inning with a base hit to left field. The speedy Caulder put the Vikings in scoring position by stealing second base. Webster hit a high fly ball that was fielded by Lake View’s Ally Spivey for the out, holding Caulder at second. Genesis Anderson sent a ball to the outfield that got by the fielder to score Caulder for Latta’s fifth run. Kurstin Hopkins scored Anderson on a deep hit to the outfield that that was misjudged slightly by the fielder. No further damage was done, but the Viking lead was now 6-0.

Logan Spivey led off for the Gators in the top of the sixth and was called out on a very close call at first. Tyndall drew her second walk and advanced to second base on a fielder’s choice hit by Kayla Page. Ally Spivey sent Tyndall to third base as she beat the throw that was bobbled at first base. Tyndall scored on a base hit to centerfield by Madison Greene. The Viking fielders ended the Wild Gator rally holding onto the 6-1 lead.

Madison Owens made it to base on a hard hit ball that bounced off the short stop’s glove but the Gator fielders put the next three batters down to get back to the plate trailing 6-1.

The Wild Gator hopes ended in the top of the seventh with the steady gloves of the Viking fielders putting the three batters out going to first base to secure the 6-1 win.

On the mound for the Wild Gators, Marissa Tyndall posted seven strikeouts, walked one batter, and allowed 12 hits and six runs scored for the loss.

On the mound for the Vikings, Dori Webster posted five strikeouts with two batters to base on walks, and gave up two hits and one run scored for the win.

At bat for the Wild Gators, Madison Greene was 1-for-3 with one RBI; Alex Elliot was 1-for-3 with a stolen base; Logan Spivey was 1-for-3; Kayla Page got to base on an error and advanced the runner on a fielder’s choice hit; Ally Spivey got to base on an error; and Marissa Tyndall made it to base on two walks and scored one run.

At bat for the Vikings, Camryn Sawyer was 3-for-4 with two doubles, a triple, and one RBI, advancing the runner on a fielder’s choice hit; Kaleigh Caulder was 2-for-4 with a stolen base; Madison Owens was 1-for-3 getting to base on an error and a walk with one RBI; Kurstin Hopkins was 1-for-3 getting to base on an error with one RBI; Dori Webster was 1-for-4; Kyra Grant was 1-for-4 getting to base on an error with one RBI and adding a fielder’s choice hit; Macy Hyatt got to base on an error with two RBI, also getting to base on a fielder’s choice; Genesis Anderson got to base on an error with one RBI; and Maddy Long advanced the runner on a fielder’s choice hit.

Lake View Head Coach Brandi Huggins gave credit to the Latta batters for their effort in the game. Coach Huggins has a winning record and will have her team ready for the remainder of the season.

Latta Head Coach Stephanie Johsnon stated that the Wild Gators are a good team and added, “We feel good about a win over a top rated team like the Wild Gators.”

Latta improved to 12-3 overall and 3-0 in Region 8-A, and Lake View slipped to 4-2 and 2-1 in the region.

Latta was scheduled to resume play in Cheraw’s spring break tournament this week, and will return to regular season acton on Tuesday, April 7, at Green Sea-Floyds.

Lake View was scheduled to host Carvers Bay on Monday and Hannah Pamplico tonight at 5:30 p.m.

Photos by Craig Brown. Click the images below to view at full size!