News Summary
Lake View and McBee are set to face off in the decisive game of the Class A baseball championship series at Francis Marion College. Lake View’s recent victory in game two showcased outstanding pitching and defense, while McBee aims to recover from mistakes in their previous match. Both teams bring a wealth of talent and experience, with Lake View’s Kason Herlong earning accolades as Player of the Year. The match promises to be a thrilling conclusion to an intense playoff journey for both programs.
Florence, SC – The championship series of Class A baseball has reached a thrilling crescendo as Lake View prepares to face McBee in the deciding game of their playoff showdown. Lake View claimed a critical victory in game two, overpowering McBee with a score of 6-1, following McBee’s earlier win of 5-3 in game one of the series on May 24. The final, decisive matchup will be held at Francis Marion College this Saturday at 6 p.m., with McBee slated as the home team due to a coin flip conducted after game two.
Lake View’s triumph in game two was largely attributed to the exemplary performance by pitcher Chase Price and a solid team defense. Head Coach Kip Herlong commended the player’s efforts while reflecting on the season’s challenges. This season marks the thirteenth time under Coach Herlong’s leadership that Lake View has reached the finals, highlighting the program’s sustained excellence in Class A baseball.
In order to advance to the championship series, Lake View faced a tough challenge, having to win two games against Latta. They achieved victories with close scores of 9-8 and 4-3, demonstrating their resilience and determination throughout the playoff journey.
Kason Herlong, the star pitcher and son of Coach Herlong, has signed to play baseball at North Greenville University and is one of the key senior starters for Lake View alongside Chris McGill, Brayden Borders, and Kaden Parnell. Kason has been named the Class A Baseball Player of the Year by the South Carolina Baseball Coaches Association, adding to the team’s prestige. He is expected to start as pitcher in the upcoming deciding game, boasting an impressive record of 7-0 and an ERA of 0.618.
On the other side of the field, McBee’s journey to the finals has also been marked by historical successes, with four state baseball titles to their name. As the team prepares for the decisive match, Head Coach Josh Tiller pointed out the mistakes made during game two, particularly issues with hit batters and defensive errors. Tiller, now in his third season as the head coach after serving as an assistant since 2018, has yet to confirm the starting pitcher for the final game but has a range of options available to choose from.
Key players for McBee include Hayden Griggs, who boasts a batting average of .393 along with 34 RBIs, and Landon Tedder, whose performance as a center fielder and pitcher features a .375 batting average, 20 RBIs, and an ERA of 3.13. Additional significant contributors to McBee’s offense are Aiden Hughes (.475 batting average with 38 RBIs), Chris Stone (.404), and JJ Melton (.392).
In game two, Lake View scored their first run in the bottom of the first inning, followed by additional runs in the third and fifth innings to secure the win. McBee managed to put one run on the board in the sixth inning, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Lake View’s consistent scoring. Both teams registered seven hits in the game; Colten Moody led Lake View with two hits and one RBI, while Aiden Hughes provided a standout performance for McBee with two hits.
This championship series stands as a significant milestone for Coach Kip Herlong, who will conclude his illustrious 32-season coaching career after this season, boasting a remarkable record of 633 wins and 169 losses along with eight state titles. The support from the community was evident in game two, as approximately 100 former players attended to show their appreciation for their coach.
As the teams prepare for the final faceoff, all eyes will be on the field at Francis Marion College, where tradition, dedication, and skill will culminate in a showdown for the Class A championship title.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Florence Faces Elimination After Close Loss in State Tournament
South Carolina High School Football Season Preview
Scheffler Leads The Open Championship as Local Teams Compete
Lancaster Dixie Baseball Ozone All-Stars Fall in Championship
LaNorris Sellers Stays Committed to Gamecocks Despite NFL Prospects
Grand Opening of Dave’s Hot Chicken in Florence, SC
Florence Post 1 Secures 2-0 Victory Over Manning-Santee
South Carolina Unveils Talented Class of 2025 Football Recruits
South Carolina Unveils Class of 2025 Football Recruits
Airport Baseball Clinches SCHSL 4A Lower State Championship
Additional Resources
- HSSR: Lake View Wins Game Two in Class A Baseball Finals
- Lansing State Journal: Okemos Baseball Advances to Regional Final
- Columbus Telegram: High School Baseball Updates
- AccessWDUN: Lakeview Routs LCA
- WLIX: Okemos Baseball Advances to Regional Finals
- Wikipedia: Baseball
- Google Search: High School Baseball
- Google Scholar: High School Baseball
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Baseball
- Google News: High School Baseball
