By Craig Brown

The Latta High School Lady Vikings defeated the Branchville High School Lady Yellow Jackets 11-0 on Wednesday, May 6, in Latta in the Class A, District VIII championship game.

The win puts the Vikings one step closer to another lower state championship while the loss eliminates the Lady Yellow Jackets, who finish the season with an 11-7 record.

The Vikings overpowered the Lady Jackets, producing 17 hits at bat with pitcher Dori Webster giving up only one hit with no runners to base on errors by the Viking fielders.

Amber Cook led off for the Jackets, lining a hard grounder to Viking second baseman Camryn Sawyer who threw Cook out going to first. Jessie Funchess sent a base hit to centerfield for the one and only hit by the Jackets in this game. Funchess was left on base as Nicky Kilgus hit into a fielder’s choice out at first and cleanup batter Anna Croder went down swinging to put the Vikings at bat.

Camryn Sawyer led off for the Vikings and was called out on a close throw from short stop to first. Left hander Kyra Grant laid down a perfect bunt for a hit and then stole second base. Madison Owens advanced Grant to third base on a fielder’s choice hit to short stop. Clean up batter Macy Hyatt picked up a double to left center, scoring Grant. Brooke Carter was brought in to run for Hyatt. Kaleigh Caulder sent a line shot to right center for a hit, scoring Carter. Caulder moved into scoring position by stealing second base. Dori Webster sent a solid hit to centerfield to score Caulder. D’Anna Tanner entered the game to run for Webster. Tanner scored when Genesis Anderson sent a deep hit to centerfield. Maddy Long advanced Anderson to third with a base hit to left field. Kurstin Hopkins brought Anderson home on a base hit to right. Camryn Sawyer brought Long and Hopkins to home plate with a triple to right center. Kyra Grant made it to base on an error scoring Sawyer at third for the eighth run of the inning. The Jackets fielded a high fly ball in left field to end the first inning with Latta out front 8-0.

Webster and the Viking fielders put the Jackets three up and out in the top of the second to return to bat. Macy Hyatt picked up her second double of the game and Dori Webster added a single but the Vikings brought no runners home, holding the 8-0 lead after two.

Latta infielders Camryn Sawyer, Kara Grant, and Madison Owens put the Jacket batters three up and out in the top of the third inning, bringing the Vikings back to the plate. The Vikings picked up hits by Maddy Long and Kyra Grant in the bottom of the third but could not bring a runner home so it was still Latta 8, Branchville 0, after three innings played.

Latta left fielder Kaleigh Caulder hauled in two fly balls for outs and short stop Madison Owens threw out a runner at first in the top of the fourth to get their team back to bat. With one out, Caulder laid down a bunt for a base hit, quickly stole second base, and then made the rare steal to third base. Genesis Anderson sent a base hit to right field to score Caulder. Latta ended the inning with a 9-0 lead.

Dori Webster struck out two batters and Camryn Sawyer threw out a runner at first from her second base position to send the Vikings back to bat. Kyra Grant and Madison Owens got to base on solid hits to the outfield and Macy Hyatt slammed a game over two RBI double to right center to give the Vikings the 11-0 win in five innings.

On the mound for the Yellow Jackets, Jessie Funchess posted no strikeouts with no walked batters and gave up 17 hits with 11 runs scored for the loss.

For the Vikings, Dori Webster posted three strikeouts with no walked batters and gave up one hit in the shut out win.

Funchess picked up the lone Yellow Jacket hit.

At bat for the Vikings, Macy Hyatt was 3-for-4 with three doubles and two RBI; Kyra Grant was 3-for-4, also getting to base on an error with one RBI and a stolen base; Kaleigh Caulder was 2-for-3 with one RBI and three stolen bases; Genesis Anderson was 2-for-3 with two RBI; Maddy Long was 2-for-3 also getting to base on an error; Dori Webster was 2-for-3 with one RBI; Kurstin Hopkins was 1-for-3 with a stolen base; Camryn Sawyer was 1-for-4 with a triple and two RBI; and Madison Owens was 1-for-4. D’Anna Tanner and Brooke Carter both scored a run as pinch base runners.

Latta Head Coach Stephanie Johnson stated that she was very proud of her players and praised her assistant coaches for getting the team prepared for this game.

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