The Latta Vikings captured the Class 2A lower state title in a 5-4 marathon 13-inning playoff game over Batesburg-Leesville in Latta on Wednesday, May 10.
John Malcolm George singled in the bottom of the thirteenth inning to get the winning run across for Latta.
Hunter Sawyer picked up the win for Latta. He pitched 6 innings and allowed a hit, walked 3, and struck out 3.
Latta’s Noah Henderson began the game on the mound for the Vikings. He pitched 7 innings, allowed 6 hits, 4 runs, struck out 5, and walked 2.
Dawkins, who pitched 5 2/3 innings was tagged with the loss. He allowed 2 hits, an earned run, walked 8, and struck out 2.
T. Wheeler also pitched 7 innings for Batesburg-Leesville. He allowed 5 hits, 4 runs, walked 6, and struck out 4.
Batesburg-Leesville committed 2 errors in the game while Latta was guilty of 1.
Batesburg-Leesville took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
Latta quickly placed 2 runs on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning to take a 2-1 lead.
Batesburg-Leesville added a run in the top of the third to knot the game at 2. Batesburg-Leesville added 2 runs in the top of the fourth inning to take a 2-run lead over the Latta Vikings.
Latta managed to add a run in the bottom of the fifth and another run in the bottom of the sixth to knot the game at 4.
There was no more scoring until the thirteenth inning.
Each team picked up 7 hits.
R. Gonzalez connected for 2 singles in 3 at-bats while H. Bedenbaugh garnered 2 hits in 6 at-bats for Batesburg-Leesville. C. Peterson doubled in 5 at-bats. N. Clark singled in 5 at-bats while P. Eargle singled in 6 at-bats.
John Malcolm George was perfect at the plate with a single in his 1 trip to the plate for Latta. Cledus Williams singled in his 2 at-bats while Cody Anderson singled in his 2 at-bats. McLeod Carmichael doubled in his 5 at-bats. Deonte Stanley singles in his 5 at-bats while Daniel Khalil singled in his 6 at-bats.
Latta is 22-4 for the season.
The Latta Vikings traveled to Fox Creek on Saturday, May 13, to play for the Class 2A state championship.