LATHAM - It was a perfect start. Literally.

Lori Harmon pitched a perfect game as the Symmes Valley Lady Vikings blanked Western Pike 11-0 in five innings Wednesday in a Southern Ohio Conference game.

Harmon struck out 12 of the 15 batters she faced.

"We started the league off right and the season right. Harmon and Coomes did an excellent job working the plate," Lady Vikings coach Jeff "Odie" Estep said.

"With the way Lori pitched, it makes it easy on the defense."

Symmes Valley erupted for seven runs in the second inning to decide the outcome.

Rebecca Capper singled, Jodi Black and Kristen Crabtree walked, and Natasha Pointer singled home two runs.

Erin Martin had an RBI base hit and Emily Bowling singled home two runs. Harmon and Capper walked and Black capped the rally with a two-run single.

The Lady Vikings finished the scoring with four runs in the third inning.

Pointer singled, Kayla Justice walked, Martin hit into a fielder's choice, and Bowling hit into a fielder's choice as a run scored. A throwing error on the play scored Justice.

Coomes was safe on an error as a run scored and Capper grounded into a fielder's choice as a run scored.

Pointer was 2-3 with two runs batted in as the Vikes got six hits.

Symmes Valley hosts South Point Thursday and visits Green Friday.

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Western00000=005

Lori Harmon and Megan Coomes. Hall and Lesley. W-Harmon (12-K, 0-W). L-Hall (2-K, 3-W). Hitting-Symmes Valley: Natasha Pointer 2-3 (2 RBI), Jodi Black 1-2, Rebecca Capper 1-2, Emily Bowling 1-2, Erin Martin 1-3.

Green 3, Eastern 1

BEAVER - The Green Lady Bobcats don't mind working overtime.

Green opened the season with a 3-1 win in eight innings over Beaver Eastern in a Southern Ohio Conference game Wednesday.

Green took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Amanda Avery walked, moved up on a fielder's choice, stole third and came home when Erin Hall singled.

Eastern tied the game in the fifth inning and it stayed 1-1 until the top of the eighth.

Traci Elrod singled, Avery walked, and a fielder's choice forced Elrod at third base. But Shay Richendollar singled in the go-ahead run and Hall knocked in an insurance run.

Erin Hall got the win as she went the distance striking out two and no allowing a walk.

Green hosts Symmes Valley Friday.

Green10000002=370

Eastern00001000=151

Erin Hall and Deidre Perkins. Rebecca Day and Nikki Schackant. W-Hall (2-K, 0-W). L-Day (7-K, 6-W). Hitting-Green: Traci Elrod 2-4, Deidre Perkins 1-4, Erin Hall 2-4 (RBI), Jennifer Slaughter 1-4, Shay Richendollar 1-4 (RBI); Eastern: Amber Howell 1-4, Jenna Francis 1-4, Nikki Schackant 1-3, Neu 2-2.