Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

AID — Symmes Valley coach Jeff “Odie” Estep was looking to challenge his Lady Vikings.

Not only were they challenge, they were up to the challenge.

The Lady Vikings played four strong teams in the annual Valley of Thunder Softball Classic on Friday and Saturday and came away with a 2-2 record.

“We played some good teams and saw some good pitchers and I was pleased with our girls responded,” said Estep.

The Lady Vikings had five hits in a 3-0 loss to Alexander (11-1) in their first game on Friday. Taylor Webb was 2-3 while Stephanie Brown, Tiara Hatfield and Autumn Keathley were 1-3.

“We hit the ball hard, but we couldn’t get any timely hits,” said Estep.

Symmes Valley (11-2) bounced back to beat Columbus Bishop Ready 7-6.

The Lady Vikings wasted no time as they scored four runs in the first inning.

Brown reached on an error, Webb singled and Payne and Hatfield had RBI singled. Sierra Ross capped the rally with a sacrifice fly.

Webb doubled and Payne singled for a run in the second.

Ready got a run in the third and two in the fourth, but the Lady Vikings got two I the fifth to lead 7-3.

Ross walked, Mays singled, Caitlin Carpenter had a sacrifice fly and Brenna Morris had an RBI double.

Webb went 3-4, Payne 2-4 and Hatfield 2-3 as the Lady Vikings had 10 hits.

On Saturday, the Lady Vikings fell to Hilliard Bradley 4-2.

Bradley got a run in the first, two in the third and one in the fourth to lead 4-0.

The Lady Vikings scored a run in the bottom of the fourth when Hatfield double and Keathley singled.

Symmes Valley got a run in the seventh when Morris and Webb singled and Payne hit a sacrifice fly.

The Lady Vikings then loaded the bases but were unable to score.

Against Chillicothe, the Lady Vikings got four runs in the first inning.

Brown walked, Webb hit into a fielder’s choice, and Payne had an RBI single. Hatfield singled, Sierra Ross walked, Autumn Keathley grounded out for an RBI and Hannah Mays and Caitlin Carpenter had RBI singles.

Three runs scored in the fifth.

Payne reach on an error, a wild pitch, Keathley’s RBI single, Mays and Brown both reached on errors and a throwing error.

Symmes Valley plays at New Boston on Tuesday.

Friday’s First Game

Alexander 001 110 0 = 3 7 1

Sym. Valley 000 000 0 = 0 5 0

Kendall Meeks and Hannah Howery. Stephanie Brown and Tiara Hatfield. W-Meeks (K-3, BB-1). L-Brown (K-6, BB-0). Hitting—Alex: Hannah Howery 2-3, Nicole Hudnall 1-4, Abby Howard 1-3, Meghan Trout 1-3, Kendall Milum 1-3, Jada Mace 1-3; SV: Taylor Webb 2-3, Stephanie Brown 1-3, Tiara Hatfield 1-3, Autumn Keathley 1-3.

Friday’s Second Game

Col. Ready 001 200 3 = 6 8 3

Sym. Valley 410 020 x = 7 10 5

Hailey Bryan and Shelby Tracy. Kaitlyn Payne and Tiara Hatfield. W-Payne (K-4, BB-2). L-Bryan (K-0, BB-3). Hitting—BR: Jessica Champa 2-4, Shannan Waldo 2-5, Courtney Hackney 2-5, Shelby Tracy 1-4, Naomi Etgen 1-4; SV: Taylor Webb 3-4, Kaitlin Payne 2-4, Tiara Hatfield 2-3, Autumn Keathley 1-3, Hannah Mays 1-3, Brenna Morris 1-3 2B.

Saturday’s First Game

Bradley 102 100 0 = 4 8 2

Sym. Valley 000 100 1 = 2 8 1

Morgan Daniels and Jordan Pallay. Kaitlyn Payne and Tiara Hatfield. W-Daniels (K-5, BB-2). L-Payne (K-6, BB-2). Hitting—HB: Morgan Daniels 3-4 2-2B, Hannah Lewis 1-4, Jordan Pallay 1-4, Ashley Rondy 1-4, Hannah Gillespie 2-4; SV: Taylor Webb 2-4 2B, Stephanie Brown 1-4, Tiara Hatfield 1-4 2B, Sierra Ross 1-4, Autumn Keathley 1-4, Hannah Mays 1-3, Brenna Morris 1-3.

Saturday’s Second Game

Chillicothe 000 000 0 = 0 1 6

Sym. Valley 400 030 x = 7 8 1

Bettendons and Gallagher. Kaitlyn Payne and Tiara Hatfield. W-Payne (K-10, BB-1). L-Bettendons (K-0, BB-5). Hittin—Chillicothe: Burman 1-3; SV: Caitlin Carpenter 2-3, Stephanie Brown 1-4 2B, Kaitlyn Payne 1-4, Tiara Hatfield 1-4, Autumn Keathley 1-3, Hannah Mays 1-3, Brenna Morris 1-3.