Latta clips third-ranked Cashion to reach 2A-1 finals
SHAWNEE — The Latta High School baseball team did a good job of manufacturing a pair of runs on the way to a 2-0 lead against Cashion in their Class 2A-1 semifinal matchup Friday at Ed Skelton Field. There was no manufacturing of the next Latta run. Senior Brandon Fortner blasted a solo home run an estimated 360 feet over the left field fence to lead off the top of the sixth inning, and the second-ranked Panthers held off No.
3 Cashion late for a 5-3 victory. “You just have to take what the game gives you in certain spots, and I thought we did a pretty good job of executing most of the day,” Latta coach Dillon Atkinson told The Ada News. The Panthers, who improved to 27-3, will battle No.
4 Colbert at 4 p. m. today in the Class 2A-1 State championship game.
Latta is seeking its eighth spring state title. Colbert upset top-ranked Dale 2-0 in an earlier semifinal contest. Latta has now won 12 consecutive games.
Cashion’s season ended at 25-8. Latta 5, Colbert 3 Fortner’s moon shot in the sixth — his fifth home run of the spring — put Latta ahead 3-0. “Oh my gosh, it was just a matter of time.