Latta’s Lady Vikings got a 7-5 come-from-behind win over Lake View’s Lady Wild Gators on Friday night to claim the Region 8-A softball championship and eliminate the Lady Gators from playoff action.

Neither team could get on the board through the first four innings, but Latta’s Macy Hyatt hit a single in the top of the fifth to bring in the runner at third for the first run of the game and a 1-0 lead. But with the bases loaded in the bottom of the inning, Lake View’s Kayla Sanderson hit a grand slam that gave the Lady Gators a 4-1 lead, and Ashley Rogers hit one over third for another RBI to put Lake View ahead 5-1.

Latta began to rally in the top of the sixth, with Mikenzi Caniglia hitting a double to advance runners and Madison Owens doubling to score two. Lake View’s Kayla Sanderson took over pitching duties, but Latta’s Tori Grimsley hit a grounder to third for a single to bring in another runner for the Vikings to leave them trailing 5-4. Lake View managed to load the bases in the bottom of the sixth, but couldn’t cross the plate before the third out.

In the top of the seventh, Latta’s Camryn Sawyer hit one past third and made it to second, and Dori Webster hit a hopper to the shortstop, allowing Sawyer to advance to third on an error. Latta’s Anna Rogers hit a grounder to the pitcher, allowing the runner to score to tie the game at 5-5. With runners on first and third, Caniglia went up to bat and the runner on first advanced to second on the pitcher’s throw. Caniglia hit the next one to the left, allowing both runners to score and give Latta the 7-5 lead. Latta advanced another runner to third, with a grounder from Owens, but a bunt from Grimsley ended the inning before the Vikings could score again. Lake View’s batters struck out on the next at bat for the Gators, and Sawyer lined out to the shortstop to end the game with the Lady Vikings on top.

Anna Rogers pitched the complete game for Latta for seven hits, five earned runs, five walks, and 12 outs. Kayla Sanderson pitched two-thirds of an inning for Lake View for the loss, allowing five hits, three earned runs, and one out. Lake View’s Morgan Herlong also pitched for the Wild Gators.

Macy Hyatt went 4-for-4 with a RBI and Mikenzie Caniglia went 2-for-4 with two RBIs to lead the Lady Vikings at bat. Camryn Sawyer went 2-for-4, and Madison Owen went 1-for-4 with two RBIs. The Vikings had 10 hits in the win.

Kayla Sanderson led Lake View at bat, going 2-for-2 with the grand slam and four RBIs, and Kateland Cox went 2-for-3. Madison Matthews went 1-for-4 with a double as the Lady Gators made seven hits.

Latta improved to 5-3 in Region 8A with the win and 10-11 overall. Lake View slipped to 3-5 in the region with a 13-7 overall record.

The win also gave the Lady Vikings the region title with Johnsonville taking second place, Green Sea-Floyds in third, and Hannah-Pamplico in fourth. All three teams finished with 4-4 records in Region 8-A, so their region finish was determined by defensive points allowed.

Latta was scheduled to travel to Darlington for a double-header on Monday. The Lady Vikings received a bye in the first round of playoffs and will host the winner of Thursday’s round one game in the District VIII playoffs.

Lake View’s Lady Gators will be at Mullins tonight at 6:00 p.m. to wrap up the regular season.

Photos by Johnnie Daniels/THE DILLON HERALD. Click images below to view at full size!