Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PORTSMOUTH — Jonathan Kouns made mud out of Clay.

The Symmes Valley pitcher fired a no-hitter as the Vikings blanked the Portsmouth Clay Panthers 12-0 in five innings in a Southern Ohio Conference game on Thursday.

Kouns struck out two and walked four as he held the Panthers hitless.

“Kouns pitch pretty well. He didn’t have his best stuff and he just kept battling them,” said Vikings’ coach Chad Renfroe.

The Vikings (9-1, 6-0) collected 12 hits with Lane Wilson, Jacob Easthom and Jacob Klaiber going 2-2 and Dylan Pelletier 2-3 with two doubles.

After a scoreless first inning, the Vikings got four runs in the second.

Klaiber had an RBI single and Pelletier drove in another run with a double to highlight the rally.

The lead went to 9-0 with a five-run third inning. Easthom, Klaiber and Wilson all singled in a run while Pelletier doubled in a run.

The Vikings put the game away with three runs in the fourth inning.

Dylan McFann singled, Pelletier was safe on an error and Mitch Corn and Travis Gates each had run-scoring singles.

Symmes Valley hosts Ashland, Ky. at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Sym. Valley 045 30 = 12 12 1

Ports. Clay 000 00 = 0 0 7

Jonathan Kouns and Alec Herrell. C. Phillips and Jackson. W-Kouns (K-2, BB-4, HBP-1). L-Phillips. 2B-SV: Jacob Easthom, Dylan Pelletier 2. Hitting-SV: D.J. Miller 1-2, Travis Gates 1-1, Jacob Easthom 2-2, Jacob Klaiber 2-2, Dylan McFann 1-1, Dylan Pelletier 2-3, Lane Wilson 2-2, Mitch Corn 1-3.