AID – Picked to win the Southern Ohio Conference title before the season, the Symmes Valley Vikings are beginning to believe in psychics.

Tuesday, May 02, 2000

AID – Picked to win the Southern Ohio Conference title before the season, the Symmes Valley Vikings are beginning to believe in psychics.

An 8-7 win over the Portsmouth Clay Panthers Monday enabled the Vikings to clinch at least a share of the SOC title.

"That’s a big win for us. We’ve got at least a tie for the SOC," Vikings coach Rusty Webb said. "It wasn’t a masterpiece as far as pitching and defense, but the kids hung tough and fought and fought, and they kept their composure."

Anthony Owens, Adam Corn, and Justin Myers combined to pitch the Vikings to the win. Corn got the victory and Myers the save.

"Adam Corn and Justin Myers did a nice job in relief. Anthony had another good day at the plate for us, and Noah Henson is starting to come around with his hitting," Webb said.

Owens was 3-4 with a double, Myers belted a home run, and Jeff Ralph was 2-4.

Clay took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first, but the Vikings got a run back in the bottom of the inning.

Ralph and Owens singled, but a force play erased Ralph with Owens going to second. Owens went to third on a passed ball where he scored on a wild pitch.

Symmes Valley took the lead with three runs in the third.

Jeremy Simpson was safe on an error, stole second, and rode home on Owens’ base hit. Myers walked and Henson doubled in a run. Eric Holland’s base hit knocked in the go-ahead run.

Each team scored four in the fourth.

Now finding themselves down 7-4 in the bottom of the inning, McCarty singled to start the winning rally.

McCarty moved up on a wild pitch, and scored on Simpson’s base hit. Simpson stole second and came around on a double by Owens.

Myers capped the rally with a two-run homer.

Symmes Valley, 11-2 and 10-0 in the SOC, hosts Green Wednesday and travels to Portsmouth East Thursday.

Ports. Clay 300 400 0 – 7 10 2

Sym. Valley 103 400 x – 8 10 6

A. Large and M. Large. Anthony Owens, Adam Corn (4), Myers (7) and Eric Holland. W-Corn (0-K, 0-W). Save-Myers (2-K,0-W). L-A. Large (5-K, 2-W). 2B-PC: Kirkpatrick; SV: Owens, Henson. HR-PC: Kirkpatrick; SV: Myers. Hitting-PC: Kirkpatrick 4-4 (5 RBI), M. Large 2-4, J. Davis 2-3; SV: Anthony Owens 3-4, Jeff Ralph 2-4, Justin Myers 1-3, Noah Henson 1-2, Eric Holland 1-3, Billy McCarty 1-3, Jeremy Simpson 1-4.