PORTSMOUTH - After more than a week off, the Symmes Valley Lady Vikings proved they haven't forgotten how to win.

Behind the two-hit pitching of Lori Harmon, the Lady Vikings beat the Portsmouth Clay Lady Panthers 9-1 Wednesday to win the Southern Ohio Conference championship outright.

Symmes Valley is 18-2 overall and 13-0 in the SOC.

"Winning the league was one of our goals and we accomplished that. Now we have some other goals to go after," Lady Vikings coach Jeff "Odie" Estep said. "I was concerned about how we would respond after being off so long."

Harmon didn't skip a beat as she struck out 14 and didn't walk a batter.

The offensive rust showed as the game was scoreless until the fifth inning when the Lady Vikings scored the game's first run.

Kayla Justice led off the inning with a walk and moved up on a passed ball.

Brittany Scott hit into a fielder's choice as Justice went to third and Harmon hit into a fielder's choice as the run scored.

The Lady Vikings erupted for seven runs in the fifth inning.

With one out, Kristen Crabtree and Jodie Black both walked, Natasha Pointer hit into a fielder's choice and Justice singled home a run.

Scott walked, Emily Bowling doubled in two runs, Harmon and Rebecca Capper walked to load the bases and Megan Coomes tripled to empty the bases.

Coomes scored on a passed ball.

The Lady Vikings added an insurance run in the seventh inning when Pointer singled, Justice was safe on an error and Scott singled.

Bowling went 2-3 to lead the Vikes offense.

Symmes Valley hosts its Thunder in the Valley tournament Friday and Saturday.

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Prts. Clay0000010=122

Lori Harmon and Megan Coomes. Donini and Doppins. W-Harmon (14-K, 0-BB). L-Donini (6-K, 6-BB). 2B-Symmes Valley: Emily Bowling. 3B-Symmes Valley: Megan Coomes. Hitting-Symmes Valley: Emily Bowling 2-3, Erin Martin 1-1, Brittany Scott 1-3, Megan Coomes 1-4, Kristen Crabtree 1-3, Natasha Pointer 1-4, Kayla Justice 1-4; Clay: White 1-3, Detallon 1-3.