The McBee Panthers defeated the defending Class A state champions Latta Vikings 6-2 in a game played in McBee on Monday, May 16.
The Panthers’ Harrison Hawkins pitched 7 innings and allowed 7 hits, walked 2, struck out 5, and allowed 2 earned runs in the victory.
McLeod Carmichael was the losing pitcher. He pitched 6 innings and allowed 11 hits, walked 2, struck out 2, and allowed 6 earned runs.
The Latta Vikings scored a run in the first inning when Eric McGirt doubled and Colby Lee connected for a single to score McGirt.
The lead was short-lived as McBee scored 3 runs in the bottom of the first on a rbi double by Chase Holley and 2 rbi singles by Justin Barfield and Conner Kirkley. McBee did not trail again in the game while adding 2 runs in the bottom of fourth and another in the bottom of the sixth.
Latta managed to score another run in the top of the third inning to make the score 3-2 in favor of McBee on a rbi single by Cledus Willialms.
Eric McGirt managed a double and 2 singles and a rbi in his 4 at-bats for Latta. Colby Lee garnered a single and a rbi in his 3 at-bats while McLeod Carmichael and Dalton Lane each singled in 3 at-bats.
McBee’s Conner Kirkley garnered 2 singles, 1 rbi, and a run in his 3 at-bats while teammate
Thomas Horton also picked up 2 single sin 3 at-bats.
Alex Miller connected for a double, 2 rbi, a walk, and scored a run in his 4 plate appearances for the Panthers. Harrison Hawkins managed a double, a walk, and scored 2 runs in his 4 plate appearances in the win. Brad Wilkerson also doubled in his 3 at-bats.
Game 2 of the series was played in Latta on Wednesday, May 18.
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The Latta Vikings defeated McBee 5-1 in varsity baseball action on Wednesday, May 18, in Latta to force game 3 of the 1A state championship.
Latta’s Colby Lee picked up the win going 7 innings and allowing 4 hits, no earned run, struck out 6, and walked no one.
McBee’s relief pitcher Clark Kirkley was tagged with the loss having pitched 2 1/3 innings and allowing 6 hits, 5 runs of which 4 were earned, struck out 1, and walked 1. McBee’s Noah Cohick  pitched 3.1 innings and allowed 3 hits, walked 2, and struck out 2. Justin Barfield pitched 1/3 inning and struck out 1.
McBee picked up 4 hits and committed 2 errors in the game.
McBee took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a rbi single by Justin Barfield.
Justin Barfield connected for 2 singles in 3 at-bats while Harrison Hawkins picked up 1 rbi off of 1 single in 3 at-bats. Clark Kirkley also garnered a single in 3 at-bats for McBee.
The Vikings managed 9 hits and committed 1 error in the game.
The Vikings’ bats were silenced until the fourth inning when they left the bases loaded.
Eric McGirt connected for a single in the first and fifth innings, a double in the sixth, 2 rbi, and scored a run in his 4 at-bats.
In the fifth inning McLeod Carmichael singled, Caleb Mishue got on base on an error, Eric McGirt singled, Jackson Williams singled, and a sac fly by Colby Lee, and a Dylan Brewer single made the score 4-1.
Latta’s McGirt connected for a double in the bottom of the sixth and picked up a rbi to make the final score of 5-1.
Latta faced McBee on Friday, May 20, for the state championship at a neutral site.
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The defending 1A state baseball champions, the Latta Vikings, lost 6-4 in game 3 of the state championship series with the final game held in neutral Sumter on Friday, May 20.
The McBee Panthers took a 1-0 lead after the bottom of the first inning when Justin Barfield singled. Clark Kirkley singled and picked up the rbi when Barfield scored.
Latta quickly took the lead in the second inning 3-1 and remained on top until the fourth inning when McBee scored 3 runs  to take a 4-3 lead.
The score remained that way until Latta knotted the game at 5 in the top of the sixth inning at 4.  However, the Panthers regained the lead with 2 runs in the bottom of the sixth when Kirkley again connected for a rbi single. The Panthers never trailed again.
Latta picked up 6 hits,  4 runs, and committed 2 errors while McBee picked up 7 hits, 6 runs, and committed 1 error. Dalton Lane led the offense while getting on base three times managing to pick up two rbi and scoring one run for the Vikings.
Colby Lee was charged with the loss having pitched only one inning.  He struck out two, walked three, and allowed three runs.
McBee’s Harrison Hawkins picked up the win. He allowed six hits, struck out six, walked five, and allowed four runs.

PHOTO BY BETSY BRIDGERS