Lake View’s Wild Gators earned a 4-3 walk-off win over the Johnsonville Flashes to earn a shot at Latta on Friday in the Class A Lower State playoffs.

Johnsonville went three up, three down to lead off the top of the first inning, but Lake View opened their first turn at bat with a double from Carson Rogers. Weston Rogers and Josh Price both flew out, but Carson Rogers advanced to third on Price’s hit. Luc Newell walked to put runners on first and third, but Justin Elliott flew out to end the inning.

Johnsonville’s Cooper flew out in the top of the second, and Parsons walked, but Thompson flew out and Pennell hit one to the left and was put out on the way to first to send Lake View to bat.

Brent Herlong singled to lead off the bottom of the inning for the Gators, and Roger Scott made a sacrifice bunt to advance Herlong to second. Hunter Stevens hit a double to score Herlong, and Duane Nichols doubled to advance Stevens to third. Carson Rogers hit a sacrifice fly to score Stevens, but Weston Rogers flew out to end the inning with the Gators up 2-0.

Johnsonville’s Howell walked in the top of third, and Wilkes made a sacrifice bunt to advance him to second. Barnhill reached on a walk, and both Howell and Barnhill advanced on passed ball. Newell received a an intent walk, and with the bases loaded, Prosser doubled to score Howell and Barnhill. Cooper followed with a sacrifice fly to score Newell, and Parsons flew out to end the inning with Johnsonville up 3-2.

Luc Newell reached on an error in the bottom of the third, but Price and Elliott flew out and Herlong struck out to end the inning. The Flashes went three up, three down in the top of the fourth, and Scott flew out to lead off the bottom of the inning. Stevens walked, and Nichols struck out for the second out. Carson Rogers and Weston Rogers both walked to load the bases, but Josh Price hit one to third that put out Carson Rogers and was put out himself on the way to first.

Neither team could get any momentum in the fifth, with all three Johnsonville batters put out at first. Newell was put out in the bottom of the inning, and Elliott reached on an error but was put out on the way to second. Herlong hit into a fielder’s choice, and Scott was put out to end the inning.

Both teams went three up, three out in the sixth, and Johnsonville did the same in the top of the seventh. Weston Rogers led off the bottom of the seventh with an out, and Josh Price flew out for the second. But Luc Newell reached on an error and scored to tie the game at 3-3.

The Flashes led off the top of the eighth with an out, but Barnhill singled and advanced to second after Newell was hit by pitch. Prosser flew out, and Cooper went out on the way to first as Newell was put out on the way to second to send Lake View to bat. Roger Scott walked to start the inning for the Gators, and Stevens made a sacrifice bunt to advance Scott to second. But Nichols flew out, and Carson Rogers was hit one to the pitcher and went out at first.

Parsons singled for the Flashes in the top of the ninth, and advanced on a sacrifice bunt from Thompson. Pennell singled to advance both runners, but Howell flew out. Wilkes reached on a walk to load the bases, but Barnhill hit one to the pitcher and was put out at first to end the threat.

Lake View led off the bottom of the ninth with a double from Weston Rogers, and Josh Price followed with a double to score the winning run and end the game at 4-3.

Josh Price earned the win on the mound for Lake View, pitching 5.3 innings and facing 20 batters for three hits, one walk, and one out. Weston Rogers pitched four innings, facing 17 batters for one hit, three earned runs, four walks, and two outs.

Johnsonville’s Josh Stone took the loss, pitching eight inning sand facing 37 batters for six hits, three earned runs, five walks, and three outs.

At bat for Lake View, Carson Rogers was 1-for-4 with a double; Weston Rogers was 1-for-4 with a double; Josh Price was 1-for-5 with a double and one RBI; Hunter Stevens went 1-for-3 with a double; Duane Nichols went 1-for-4 with a double; Brent Herlong was 1-for-3 with one run scored; and Luc Newell scored one run.

At bat for Johnsonville, Jacob Prosser went 1-for-4 with a double; Kennon Parson went 1-for-3; and Christian Pennell went 1-for-4.

Lake View advanced to face Latta for the Lower State title on Friday, but fell 7-5 to the Vikings (read more about the game in the Tuesday, May 20, issue of THE DILLON HERALD).

The Wild Gators finished the season with a 16-7 record and will return all but one player next season.

Photos by Mark King/THE DILLON HERALD. Click the images below to view at full size!