The Dillon Wildcats were eliminated from the Class 2A playoffs on Wednesday night while Lake View defeated Johnsonville 5-4 to advance to the Lower State Championship against Latta on Friday.

The Wildcats fell 6-5 to Loris after tying the game 5-5 in the seventh to force an extra inning. Tanner Chock got the win on the mound for Loris while Weston Bailey took the loss for Dillon. Loris will travel to face Bishop England for the Lower State title on Friday.

In Class A baseball action, Lake View held off a rally from Johnsonville in the seventh inning to clinch a 5-4 win and a trip to the lower state championship game in Latta on Friday. Darius Leonard hit a two-run triple in the fourth and got the save on the mound. Carson Rogers got the win for Lake View, pitching 6.3 innings for three runs and six hits, striking out two. Weston Rogers had three hits to lead Lake View at bat.

Latta and Lake View will now square off for the Lower State title on Friday in Latta at 5:30 p.m. The Vikings have defeated the Gators in all three previous encounters this season. If Lake View wins on Friday, the two teams will have to play a second elimination game to determine the championship. The winner will advance to the state championship series beginning on Monday, where they will face the winner of the upper state championship game between St. Joseph’s and Fox Creek.

In Class A softball, Latta’s Lady Vikings edged Johnsonville 3-2 to advance to the lower state championship. Anna Rogers got the win, striking out 16 in seven innings and allowing just three hits. Raven Baxley had two hits to lead Latta at bat and Camryn Sawyer picked up two RBIs.

The Lady Vikings will travel to East Clarendon on Friday at 5:30 p.m. for the Lower State title. Latta will have to beat East Clarendon twice to claim the title. Dixie and Fox Creek will play for the Upper State title.

In Class AA softball, Dillon eliminated Silver Bluff 15-2 in seven innings, with Shaquailla German pitching a complete game, allowing just three hits while striking out nine. Tara Grimsley led the Lady Wildcats at bat, hitting two home runs for four RBIs; Shar’Asia Samuel went 3-for-5 with a homer; and German went 3-for-5 with a double, a home run, and three RBIs.

The Lady Wildcats will travel to Waccamaw on Friday at 6:00 p.m. Dillon will have to defeat the Lady Warriors twice to claim the lower state title. The winner will face the upper state champion on Monday, May 13, in the first game of the state championship series.