The Andrew Jackson Volunteers handed the Latta Vikings a 1-0 loss in Latta on Friday, May 28, in the AA Lower State playoff varsity baseball game.
Andrew Jackson’s Bryce Helms led off with a single over first base followed by Landon Peavy who garnered a walk. Ashton Phillips had a sac fly to right that moved the runners to second and third base. However, Latta prevented a score.
Latta’s bright spot of the bottom of the first inning was a double by Dylan Shelley.
Once again, the Volunteers threatened to score with a runner on third in the top of the second inning but the defense for Latta prevented a score.
Latta sent only 4 batters to the plate in the bottom of the second inning.
Bryce Helms struck out as the lead-off batter for Andrew Jackson in the top of the third inning. Landon Peavy hit one to deep right center for a stand-up double. However, he was stranded there as the next batter struck out followed by a pop-up foul to first.
Once again, Latta sent only 4 batters to the plate in the bottom of the third inning with Ethan Lee managing to get to first.
In the top of the fourth inning, Gavin Phillips led off with a long fly to right with a stand-up double. Andrew Taylor was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second before Landon Williams struck out watching, and Skyler Hegler went down swinging.
After an out in the bottom of the fourth inning, Andrew Bryant arrived at first on a chopper to short. Gatlin Johnson went down swinging, and Collin Minshew flew out to left to end the inning.
After a fly out to left by Bryce Helms and a fly out to right by Landon Peavy, Ashton Phillips hit one that bounced over the fence in left for a stand-up double. Kyle Percinal hit a grounder to third for out 3 in the top of the fifth inning.
Latta was retired 3 up, 3 down in the bottom of the fifth inning. In the top of the sixth inning, the Volunteers were retired in 1-2-3 fashion.
Andrew Jackson went to the bull pen after the first batter in the bottom of the sixth inning. Ashton Phillips took to the mound and the first batter he faced was out on a grounder, walked the second one, and the final batter of the inning hit a grounder to short for out 3.
Hammono Wrenn garnered a walk to lead off in the top of the seventh inning for the Volunteers followed by Banks Helms who went down swinging. Bryce Helms flew out to right. Landon Peavy was hit by a pitch. Ashton Phillips flew out to center. Gatlin Johnson garnered a walk for the Latta Vikings to place a runner on board in the bottom of the seventh inning. Collins Minshew hit a grounder to short for out 1. Justin Stutler received a free pass on an intentional walk. With runners on first and second and only one out, Collin Minshew was caught attempting to steal third. Cole Gasque went down watching strike 3 called to end regulation play.
In the top of the eighth inning, Kyle Percinal hit a grounder to short for out 1. Latta sent Gatlin Johnson in as the new pitcher. Gavin Phillips lined one to third for out 2. Bry Neal lines one to left on the line for a stand-up double with 2 outs. Andrew Taylor garnered a walk. On a high pitch that got by the catcher, runners advanced to second and third. Hammono Wrenn walked to load the bases. Fuller Sims was hit by a pitch, and the winning run scored.
The Latta Vikings’ Ethan Lee hits one up the middle for a lead-off single and quickly stole second base. Parker McCormick had a sac fly to center to move Ethan Lee to third where he was stranded.
Aston Phillips picked up the win. He pitched 2 and 2/3 innings and struck out 3, walked no one, and allowed no runs. Kyle Percinal pitched 5.1 innings and allowed 2 hits, no walks and no runs. Gatlin Johnson took the loss. He pitched 2/3 of an inning and allowed 1 hit, walked no one, and allowed 1 earned run. Christian Brigman pitched 7.1 innings and allowed 4 hits, walked 2, struck out 8, and allowed no runs. Andrew Jackson committed 2 errors in the game while Latta committed 1 error. The Volunteers’ Landon Peavy had a double in 2 at-bats while Ashton Phillips, Gavin Phillips, and Bry Neal each had a single in 4 at-bats. Andrew Taylor had a double in 2 at-bats. Fuller Sims picked up a rbi.
The Vikings’ Dylan Shelley had a double in 4 at-bats. Andrew Bryant had a single in 3 at-bats, and Ethan Lee had a single in 4 at-bats.

Andrew Jackson knocked Latta out of the state AA baseball playoffs with a run-ruled, shortened 5-inning, 10-0 loss on Saturday, May 29.
Neither team managed a run in the first 2 innings of the game. In the bottom of the third inning, Andrew Jackson placed 5 runs on the scoreboard, added a run in the bottom of the fourth inning, and 4 runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to end Latta’s 2021 baseball season.
Bry Neal picked up the win for Andrew Jackson. He pitched 5 innings and allowed 4 hits, walked 2, struck out 5, and did not allow a run. Latta’s Collin Minshew took the loss. He pitched 3 innings and allowed 5 hits, struck out 1, walked 2, and allowed 5 earned runs. Gatlin Johnson pitched 1 inning and allowed 4 hits, walked 5, struck out 1, and allowed 5 earned runs. Ethan Lee pitched 0.2 inning and allowed no hits, walked no one, struck out 1, and allowed no runs.
Andrew Jackson had 9 hits in the game of which Gavin Phillips had a double and 2 rbi in his 1 at-bat. Kyle Percinal had a single and 2 rbi in his 1 at-bat. Bry Neal had a single and 2 rbi in his 1 at-bat. Andrew Taylor had 2 singles and a rbi in his 2 at-bats. Skyler Hegler had a single and a rbi in his 3 at-bats. Ashton Phillips had a double and a rbi in his 4 at-bats. Hammono Wrenn had 2 singles in his 2 at-bats. Bryce Helms had a single in his 3 at-bats.
Latta managed 4 hits in the game with Collin Minshew connecting for a double in his 1 at-bat. Andrew Bryant and Preston Tyler each had a single in 2 at-bats while Ethan Lee had a single in 3 at-bats. Latta committed the only error in the game.
Congratulations, Latta Vikings on a great season!