Both the Lake View baseball and softball teams were victorious in Friday evenings lower state championship games and will advance to the State Championships next week.

The Wild Gators defeated Bamberg-Ehrhardt 6-3 with a three-run homer from Hunter Walters in the seventh inning to claim the lower state baseball title. Lake View will host game one of the state championship series on Monday, May 16, when they face the Chesterfield Golden Rams. Chesterfield defeated Lewisville 11-5 on Friday to advance to the championships. Monday’s game time has not yet been reported.

The Lady Wild Gators defeated the Latta Lady Vikings 8-1 to force a double-header for the lower state softball title. In game two, Lake View scored three runs in the fourth to put them ahead 3-2 and would add four more before the end of the game for a 7-2 finish to claim the lower state title.

The Lady Wild Gators will now take on upper state champions Abbeville on Monday in the first game of the state championship series. The Abbeville Panthers are coming off a 23-1 season in which their lead pitcher Durham pitched six no-hitters and three perfect games, according to stats entered by her coach. Still, Abbeville’s playoff games have all been close, with 2-0 wins over both Southside Christian and Landrum, and a 5-3 eight-inning win over Chesterfield. Monday’s game time is set for 6:00 p.m. in Lake View.

Be sure to pick up Tuesday’s issue for complete coverage of the lower state championship games!