Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

AID — Batman and Robin, you’ve got company.

The Symmes Valley Vikings formed their own dynamic duo as Laken Gothard and Chayden Renfroe combined on a three-hit shutout in a 2-0 win over the Miller Falcons in the Division IV sectional tournament on Saturday.

The Vikings (8-10) now play at No. 1 seeded Waterford at 5 p.m. on Tuesday in the sectional finals.

Gothard worked the final four innings for the win. He struck out 10, walked two and did not allow a hit. Renfroe went three innings and struck out three, walked four and gave up three hits.

“Both threw pretty well. Laken came in and pretty much shut them down. He was spot-on with his control,” said Vikings’ coach Chad Renfroe.

“But we have to do a better job hitting the ball and score runs.”

The Vikings scored a run in the third when Gothard singled, stole second, went to third on a ground out and came home on an errant pickoff throw.

The Vikings added an insurance run in the fifth on virtually the same formula.

Gothard singled, stole second, went to third on a ground out and scored when Renfroe reached on an error.

Gothard was 2-3 while Hunter Adams was 1-2 with a double as the Vikings had five hits.

The Vikings host Beaver Eastern on Monday in a league game.

Miller               000            000            0            =            0            3            2

Sym. Valley            001            010            x            =            2            5            2

Cole Geil and Rusty Greenich. Chayden Renfroe, Laken Gothard (4) and Derek Brace. W-Gothard (IP-4.0, H-0, K-10, BB-2). Renfroe (IP-3.0, K-3, BB-4). L-Geil (K-8, BB-1, HBP-1). Hitting-Miller: Colton Brown 1-3, Cole Geil 1-1, Wyatt Vollmer 1-3; SV: Laken Gothard 2-3, Payton Hayes 1-3, Nick Klaiber 1-3, Hunter Adams 1-2 2B.