The Latta High School Vikings are state champions once again!
On Saturday, May 30, the Vikings defeated McBee 3-2 in the deciding game of the SCHSL Class 1A State Championship Series at South Florence High School. The victory secured Latta's state title and capped off an outstanding season for the Vikings.
The championship game was a tightly contested battle from the start. Latta broke through in the bottom of the fifth when Caden Hyatt led off with a single and later scored on Fisher Richardson's RBI double to give the Vikings a 1-0 lead.
McBee responded in the top of the sixth inning, using timely hits to score two runs and take a 2-1 advantage. Facing their first deficit of the game, the Vikings answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning.
After Logan Byrd reached base and Danny McDowell entered as a courtesy runner, Latta put together a rally. Luke Huggins advanced the runner, and Bryson Berry's ground ball moved him into scoring position. With two outs, Zach Lane drew a walk to put runners on base. Hyatt then delivered a clutch single to right field, driving in two runs and giving Latta a 3-2 lead.
On the mound, Bryan "BW" Berry turned in a championship performance. Berry pitched all seven innings, allowing just two earned runs while striking out 10 batters. He finished the game in dominant fashion by retiring all three McBee hitters he faced in the seventh inning to seal the victory.
Hyatt led the offensive attack with two hits, including a double and the game-winning single, while Richardson added two hits and an RBI. Berry also contributed two hits at the plate as the Vikings collected key performances throughout the lineup.
The state championship completed an impressive season for Latta, which finished with a 27-10 record. The title reflects the hard work, dedication, and perseverance of the players and coaching staff and adds another memorable achievement to the proud tradition of Viking baseball. Mr. Robbie Brown, LHS Baseball coach, mentioned that he was
"Just grateful. Grateful for the guys, and to be a part of Latta Baseball!" when asked to comment on how it felt for his team to win the championship.
Congratulations to the Latta High School Vikings on their Class 1A State Championship season.
Photo Credit: Heath Mew Photography