Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

CHILLICOTHE — In a tight game, an error can often prove to be the difference. Imagine what four errors can do.

The Lucasville Valley Indians took advantage of four throwing errors to beat the Symmes Valley Vikings 5-2 on Saturday in the Division IV district semifinals.

“Mitch (Corn) pitched well, He pitched well enough to win. We just made too many mistakes and you can’t do that against a good team,” said Vikings’ coach Chad Renfroe.

“They had a good pitcher. He’s the best pitcher we’ve seen all year. It just came down to they made fewer mistakes than us.”

Corn gave up six hits, struck out nine and walked three. Only three of the runs were earned.

Valley’s Will Howard went the distance and allowed four hits, struck out 13 and walked four. Both runs were earned.

The Vikings took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

D.J. Miller and Alec Herrell walked, Seth Jarrell sacrificed the runners up a base and Tanner Mays hit a sacrifice fly.

Valley tied the game in the bottom of the inning when Alex Loop walked, Nate Arnett was hit by a pitch and Corey Wolford singled.

The Indians went up 2-1 in the second inning. Howard singled, stole second and scored on a throwing error.

The Vikings were guilty of three errors in the third inning when Valley scored two more runs.

A singled by Loop and two throwing errors during a rundown allowed a run to score. C.J. Burk had a base hit and he scored on an error.

Lucasville got a run in the sixth when Jonah Garrett walked, moved up on a passed ball and scored on a hit by Loop.

Symmes Valley kept battling and got a run in the seventh.

Dylan Pelletier walked, went to second on a ground out and scored on a hit by Lane Wilson.

Wilson was 3-3 for the Vikings and Pelletier 1-2. Loop was 2-3 for the Indians.

The Vikings finished the season 18-5 with an unbeaten Southern Ohio Conference title.

“The kids had a good season. We just came up a little bit short,” said Renfroe.

Sym. Valley 100 000 1 = 2 4 4

Lucasville 112 001 x = 5 6 0

Mitch Corn and Alec Herrell. Will Howard and C.J. Burk. W-Howard (IP-7, K-13, BB-4, ER-2). L-Corn (IP-6, K-9, BB-3, HBP-3, ER-3). Hitting-SV: Lane Wilson 3-3, Dylan Pelletier 1-2; LV: Loop 2-3, Arnett 1-2, Burke 1-2, Wolford 1-3, Will Howard 1-3.