By Craig Brown

The Timmonsville High School Lady Whirlwinds traveled to Latta on Thursday, April 30, for a round one match with the Latta High School Lady Vikings in Division 1A play.

The Vikings dominated from the start and never let the Whirlwinds in the game. Viking freshman Casey Prescott started on the mound, pitching innings one and two, and was relieved by Arica Gandy, who covered innings three, four and five. In the playoffs the 15 run after three is only in effect if the team on the losing end agrees. The Vikings led 16-0 at the end of three but the Whirlwinds wanted to continue. Latta Head Coach Stephanie Johnson decided to play conservative in attempts to control excessive runs that might be piled up against the Whirlwinds.

In the top of the first inning the Whirlwinds got their leadoff batter Leondeia Robinson to base on a walk. Prescott struck out batter number two. Justice Gee advanced Robinson on a fielder’s choice hit, taking the out at first. Sharia Wright made it to base on an error, putting runners on the corners. Prescott struck out batter five to send the Vikings to the plate.

The Vikings had 11 at bats in the first inning, producing six runs. Camryn Sawyer started things for the Vikings with a base hit to center and then stole second base. Kyra Grant got on base with a hit too hard for the second baseman to handle and stole second base. Sawyer came home on a wild pitch to the catcher for the game’s first run. Madison Owens hit a fly ball to center that was misjudged by the fielder. Grant would also make it home on some wild throws. Macy Hyatt slammed the ball to the fence for a triple, scoring Owens. Kaleigh Caulder, Dori Webster, and Genesis Anderson made it to base on walks with the speedy Caulder stealing second and third and then coming home on a wild pitch to the plate. Maddy Long lined a double to left center to score Webster and Anderson. The Whirlwinds caught some pop fly hits to finally get the Vikings out.

Prescott faced four batters in the top of the second inning, walking one and striking out three to get the Vikings back to bat leading 6-0. The Vikings got five runners to base on walks with Dori Webster and Kaleigh Caulder getting base hits and Madison Owens and Macy Hyatt getting doubles to add 11 runs and put the Vikings in front 16-0.

Arica Gandy took the mound for the Vikings in the top of the third inning, allowing two runners to base on hits and one walked batter, but no damage was done as Gandy struck out one batter and the Viking fielders put out two at the bases.

Latta decided to play what is referred to as small ball and hold the players back, making power hitter Camryn Sawyer bunt instead of hitting away. Kyra Grant did pick up a double, scoring Sawyer and Anderson to increase the Viking lead to 18-0.

Gandy struck out the bottom of the Whirlwind order in the top of the fourth to put the Vikings back to bat. Madison Owens led off with a triple to left field and was brought home on a double to center by Macy Hyatt. The Viking coaches made sure that no additional scores would be added to the rout by making base runners leave the base before the ball was pitched, forcing the umpires to call them out and ending the inning leading 19-0. The Vikings took the Whirlwind top of the order three up and out in the top of the fifth to end the game.

On the mound for the Whirlwinds, Denetrice Epps had no strikeouts with 11 walked batters and allowed 13 hits and 19 runs scored for the loss. On the mound for the Vikings, Casey Prescott posted five strikeouts with two batters to base on walks with no hits and runs scored for the win. Arica Gandy pitched three innings in relief and posted five strikeouts with one walked batter and allowed two hits and no runs scored.

At bat for the Whirlwinds Sharia Wright was 1-for-2 also getting to base on an error; Leondeia Robinson was 1-for-2 also getting a walk; Justice Gee had two fielder’s choice hits; and Karisha Commander and Kalesha Whiting made it base on walks.

At bat for the Vikings, Camryn Sawyer was 2-for-2, also getting to base on a walk and a hit by a pitch adding a stolen base; Kaleigh Caulder was 2-for-2 with a base on a walk with four stolen bases and one RBI; Macy Hyatt was 3-for-4 with a double, two triples, and three RBI, adding a stolen base; Madison Owens was 2-for-3 with a double, a triple, and three RBI, adding a stolen base, getting to base on an error, and drawing a walk to base; Kyra Grant was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI also getting to base on a walk; Dori Webster was 1-for-2 with one RBI getting to base on two walks; Maddy Long was 1-for-3 with two RBI also getting to base on a walk; and Genesis Anderson made it to base on four walks.

The Vikings played Scott’s Branch on Saturday for an 18-0 win and will host the District VIII championship game on Wednesday.

Photos by Craig Brown. Click the images below to view at full size!