Latta baseball rebuilding after losing seven starters from 22-6 team

           Latta – The Latta High School baseball team went 22-6 last season, won its district tournament and advanced to the Class A lower state tournament. Gone from that team are seven players, three of whom are playing collegiately: Collin Minshew and Eli Henderson at Francis Marion and Luke Haselden at Southeastern Community College.

           Minshew was an All-State selection as well as an All-Region 6-Class A pick along with graduated teammate Justin Stutler.

           “All of these guys were starters and played vital roles in the success of last year’s team,” said Vikings head coach Robbie Brown.

           Needless to say, Latta is in a bit of a rebuilding mode. Still, the Vikings got off to a 9-4 overall start before Easter. They were 2-3 in region play,

           That, however, hasn’t deterred Brown in what he feels this team can accomplish.

           “The Viking baseball team plays with grit and intensity,” said Brown, who is in his third year as head coach. “The record does not show as youthful game-time inexperience has been present. I am proud of where we are and where we shall go.”

           Latta returns three starters in senior outfielder Eli Jones, junior infielder/pitcher Seth Minshew and sophomore catcher Mason Weatherford. Jones and Minshew occupy the top two spots in the batting order. Jones had a .351 batting average with a team high 16 runs scored, while Minshew was hitting .412 with a double, a triple and 12 runs batted in, which was tied for the team lead.

           Weatherford was batting .433 from the seventh spot. He was sharing the highest batting average with fellow sophomore Fischer Richardson, who also had 12 RBI from the 3 hole.

           Freshman Logan Byrd was in the cleanup spot with a .226 average. He was followed by sophomore BW Berry (.333), senior Nick Lane (.296), junior Preston Brown (.265) and junior Colby Smith (.300).

           Brown said his top two pitchers are Brown and Minshew. Brown had a 2.00 earned run average in 14 innings of work, while Minshew had a 2.71 ERA in 10 1/3 innings.

           Smith had pitched the most innings at 17 1/3 and possessed a 2.83 ERA. Freshman Caden Lee has an outstanding 1.20 ERA in 11 1/3 innings.

           Weatherford is also seeing some time on the mound along with Richardson and Berry.

           Latta’s two region wins were over Lamar by the scores of 14-2 and 14-0. That puts it in a great position to clinching one of the four playoff spots from the 5-team region.

           The Vikings’ region losses were to Lake View 8-7 in nine innings, Hannah-Pamplico 4-2 and Green Sea Floyds 7-2.