The Latta Vikings picked up a 12-2 win over Hannah-Pamplico on Thursday night in varsity baseball action.

The Vikings scored 10 runs in the opening inning and two in the bottom of the second for the 12-2 win. The Raiders scored one run each in the top of the second and third.

John Kever Love got the win on the mound, pitching five innings for three hits, two runs, one walk, and nine outs. Hannah-Pamplico’s Tanquay took the loss, pitching 2/3 of an inning for nine hits, 10 runs, five earned runs, one walk, and one out.

Travis Power led the Vikings at bat, going 3-3, and Lenneau Berry went 2-for-2. Jackson Williams went 2-for-3 with a triple, and Donell Stanley went 2-for-3 with a double as the Vikings collected 15 hits and three errors.

The Raiders had three hits and three errors in the loss.

Latta improved to 16-2 overall and 9-0 in the Region 8-A.

The Vikings will travel to Lake View tonight at 5:30 p.m. to take on the Wild Gators in a battle that will likely decide the region championship. If Latta wins, it will be their first region championship in over a decade.

The Vikings, who are having their best year since Coach Daniel Little took over the program five years ago, have extra incentive to win after Little recently announced that he will be leaving the program at the end of the season. Little’s wife has accepted an administrative position at a school in the Upstate, and their family will be relocating at the end of the year.

Little’s record at Latta is 73-39 since he took over the program. The Vikings are having their best season in years and were recently ranked second in the state in Class A baseball. Little hopes they could be the first Viking team to have a shot at the state championship since 1950.

Latta took a 6-2 win over Lake View in their previous encounter this season, but the Wild Gators haven’t lost another game all season. Tonight’s matchup is guaranteed to be exciting, so make plans to attend to support our local teams!