The Latta Vikings earned a 10-4 win over Dillon on Wednesday, April 22, before shutting out Hemingway 14-0 and 12-0 in a double header at home on Thursday night to wrap up Region 8-A with an undefeated 10-0 record.

On Thursday, Latta hosted Dillon for non-conference baseball action, but neither team could score until the top of the third when Dillon’s Dekendrick Graves singled. A sacrifice bunt from Joseph Scott advanced Graves to second, and a double from Omar McCollum scored Graves for a 1-0 Dillon lead.

In the bottom of the inning, Latta picked up four runs to take the lead. With one out, Eric McGirt drew a walk, Cledus Williams singled, and Jackson Williams reached on an intent walk to load the bases. After taking a second out, Dalton Lane hit a double to score two of the runners and Austin Miller followed with a single to bring in Jackson Williams and Lane.

Neither team could cross the plate in the fourth inning, but in the bottom of the fifth, Latta struck again with three runs. Cledus Williams walked, John Kever Love singled, and Dalton Lane and Austin Miller both doubled in the inning to put Latta up 7-1.

The Wildcats rallied in the top of the sixth with Jon-Mitchell Carter leading off with a single, followed by a single from Patrick Herring, a double from Austin Moody, and singles from Duncan Callahan and Kaleb Page. But Latta’s Love struck out the next two batters and Scott flew out to end the rally with two runners stranded on base.

Latta capped the win with three runs in the bottom of the inning as Eric McGirt and Jackson Williams both tripled and Cledus Williams singled, with all three scoring with help from Love, who reached on an error. The Vikings held Dillon off through the seventh inning, with McCollum reaching on an error but going out when he was caught stealing second. Carter hit a grounder for the second out, and Herring flew out to end the game.

John Kever Love earned the win on the mound, pitching a complete game and allowing nine hits and four earned runs, striking out 4. For the Wildcats, Blake Deese pitched four innings for five hits, four runs, four earned runs, and three walks, striking out two. Joseph Scott pitched one and two-thirds innings for three hits, three runs, two earned runs, and two outs, and Patrick Herring pitched one-third of an inning for three hits, three runs, three earned runs, one walk, and one out.

At bat for Latta, Eric McGirt went 2-for-3 with a triple, a double, and two runs scored; Cledus Williams went 2-for-3 with one RBI; Jackson Williams went 1-for-2 with a triple, one RBI, a stolen base, and two runs scored, also reaching on two walks; John Kever Love went 1-for-4 with two RBI, also reaching on an error; Dalton Lane went 2-for-4 with two doubles, three RBI, and two runs scored; Austin Miller went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI; Caleb Mishue went 1-for-3; Jonathan Ray scored three runs; and Daniel Khalil scored one run. Latta had 11 hits and three errors.

At bat for Dillon, Austin Moody went 3-for-3 with a double, a stolen base, one RBI, and one run scored; Omar McCollum went 1-for-4 with a double and one RBI, also reaching on an error; Jon-Mitchell Carter went 1-for-4 with one run; Patrick Herring went 1-for-4 with one run; Duncan Callahan went 1-for-2 with one RBI; Kaleb Page went 1-for-3 with one RBI; Dekendrick Graves went 1-for-3 with one run; and Joseph Scott reached on an error. Dillon had nine hits and two errors in the effort.

On Thursday, the Vikings hosted the Hemingway Tigers, earning 14-0 and 12-0 wins in a double header.

In game one, Latta picked up four runs in the bottom of the first and 10 runs in the second as Jackson Williams striking out eight batters with the ninth grounding out for a no-hitter.

At bat, Jackson Williams went 1-for-1 for a triple with one RBI and two runs scored, also reaching on a walk; Eric McGirt went 1-for-2 for a home run with two RBI and one run scored; Cledus Williams went 2-for-2; John Kever Love went 2-for-2 with one RBI and two runs scored; Austin Miller went 1-for-1 with one RBI and two runs scored, also reaching on a hit by pitch and a walk; Caleb Mishue went 1-for-1 with two RBI, one run, and one stolen base, also reaching on a walk; Brady Hatchell scored one run on a walk; Jonathan Ray scored two runs; Daniel Khalil scored one run on two walks; Kevin Hargrove scored one run on a walk; Aaren Hyatt picked up one RBI; Deonte Stanley reached on a walk; and Dalton Lane scored one run with one RBI on two walks. Latta had eight hits in the win.

On the mound for Hemingway, C. Lewis gave up eight hits, 13 runs, 12 earned runs, and six walks, and A. Phillip gave up one run, one earned run, and four walks.

In game two, Latta picked up four runs in the bottom of the first and eight in the bottom of the second to seal the win. Eric McGirt got the win on the mound, pitching a no-hitter for eight outs with one grounder in the third inning.

At bat for the Vikings, Brady Hatchell went 2-for-2 with one RBI, two stolen bases, and two runs scored; Dalton Lane went 1-for-1 with a double, one RBI, and two runs scored, also reaching on two walks; Cledus Williams went 1-for-1 with two RBI, also reaching on a walk and hit by pitch; Eric McGirt drew three walks; John Malcolm George scored one run with one RBI, reaching on a walk and also getting a fielder’s choice hit; Daniel Khalil picked up two RBI; Jonathan Ray scored two runs and reached on a walk and a hit by pitch; Noah Moody went 1-for-2 with one RBI and one stolen base; McLeod Carmichael went 1-for-2 with one RBI and one run; Caleb Mishue picked up two runs with two stolen bases; and Kevin Hargrove scored two runs.

Latta improved to 14-4-2 overall and finished region play with a 10-0 record.

Latta was scheduled to be at home on Monday night to host Hartsville in a non-conference game, and the Vikings will open the Class A District VIII baseball playoffs at home on Thursday.

Photos by Betsy Barfield Bridgers. Click the images below to view at full size!