The Lake View Wild Gators edged the East Clarendon Wolverines 5-4 in varsity baseball playoff action played at the Dillon Memorial Stadium in Dillon, S.C., on Saturday, May 11, before a large excited crowd.
Lake View got onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning when Kason Herlong was hit by a pitch followed by Lake View’s Brayden Borders who drove one up the middle for a single to place runners on first and second. On a passed ball, the runners advanced to second and third bases. As Luke Price took a third strike, it was missed by the catcher and a run scored. Chris McGill hit one down the third base line that scored another run.
East Clarendon tied the game at 2 in the top of the second inning when East Clarendon’s Dawson Beard garnered a walk, and the Wolverines’ Graham Newsome was hit by a pitch to place runners at first and second. East Clarendon’s Cullen McKenzie sac bunted to move the runners to second and third bases. The Wolverines’ KJ Floyd garnered a walk to load the bases. East Clarendon’s Whit Nesbitt hit a grounder to second and the runner at second was out but the throw to first was off that allowed 2 to score.
In the top of the third inning, East Clarendon’s Walker Partee hit a chopper to short followed by a grounder to deep short that placed runners on first and second. The runners stole second and third on the throw. A run scored and left runners on the corners.
In the bottom of the third inning, Lake View’s Chris McGill homered to knot the score at 3.
In the top of the fourth inning, Chase Price took the mound for the Lake View Wild Gators. The Wolverines’ Dawson Beard arrived on an error to first. East Clarendon’s #6 hit one to right for a rbi to give the Wolverines a 4-3.
Lake View knotted the score at 4 in the bottom of the fourth inning when Chris McGill was hit by a pitch, followed by Ian Capps who garnered a walk to place runners on first and second. On a passed ball, the runners move to second and third bases. Lake View’s Luke King hit a sac grounder to second, and a run scored.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Lake View left the bases loaded.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Lake View’s DJ Hardee hit one to left for a lead-off single. The Wild Gators’ Luke King walked followed by Lake View’s Tucker Bass who also walked to load the bases. Kason Herlong hit one to deep left that scored the winning run for Lake View.
Kason Herlong began on the mound for the Lake View Wild Gators. He pitched 4 innings and allowed 3 hits, 3 runs, struck out 5, and walked 5. Chase Price came in relief in the fifth inning. He pitched 3 innings and allowed 2 hits, 1 run, walked no one, and struck out 2.
Caleb Coker began on the mound for East Clarendon. He pitched 5 and 2/3 innings and allowed 5 hits, 4 runs of which 2 were earned, struck out 7, and walked 3. Cooper Goff pitched .2 innings and allowed 3 hits, 1 run, walked 4, and struck out 2.
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