Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

MINFORD — Defense did the damage.

Symmes Valley was guilty of three errors in the eighth inning that helped the Fairfield Lady Lions get past the Lady Vikings 7-4 on Saturday to win the Division IV district title.

“We played well all the way through until the eighth inning,” said Lady Vikings’ coach Jeff “Odie” Estep. “We played well other than one inning. I’m proud of them.”

The game was tied 4-4 after seven innings when the trouble began.

Cynnamon Sova-Davy tripled and scored when the Lady Vikings threw away Sirenity Smith’s bunt attempt.

Courtney Huff put down a sacrifice bunt that was thrown away at first base and put runners at second and third. Hallie Chinn singled home the second run and a throwing error on the played scored the final run.

Fairfield took a 3-0 lead in the first inning on two walks and a three-run homer by Heather Sanderson.

The lead went to 4-0 in the third on two-out singles by Justice Hattan, Smith and Huff.

The Lady Vikings got the run back in the fourth.

Catlin Carpenter walked, Chianne Hively singled, Breanna Morris sacrificed the runners and Amber Bryant grounded out.

Symmes Valley got within 4-3 in the fifth.

Kaitlyn Payne doubled, Tiara Hatfield walked, a passed ball moved the runners up a base and Carpenter singled them home.

The Lady Vikings tied the game in the sixth when Stephanie Brown had a two-out double, Autumn Keathley walked and Payne reached on an error.

The Lady Vikings — who do not have a senior on the team — finished the season 13-15.

Fairfield 301 000 03 = 7 9 3

Sym. Valley 000 121 00 = 4 5 3

Arica Melson and Hallie Chain. Stephanie Brown and Tiara Hatfield. W-Melson (K-4, BB-9). L-Brown (K-4, BB-6). 2B-SV: Kaitlyn Payne, Stephanie Brown. 3B-Fairfield: Cynnamon Sova-Davy. HR-Fairfield: Heather Sanderson. Hitting-Fairfield: Heather Sanderson 2-4, Sirenity Smith 2-4, Courtney Huff 2-4, Justice Hattan 1-3, Cynnamon Sova-Davy 1-4, Hallie Chain 1-5; SV: Stephanie Brown 1-3, Kaitlyn Payne 1-4, Tiara Hatfield 1-2, Catlin Carpenter 1-3, Chianne Hively 1-3.