Vikings roll by Notre Dame

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, April 9, 2008

PORTSMOUTH — Jeremy Hatfield may start slow, but he sure knows how to finish.

Hatfield shook off a rough start to get a complete game win as the Symmes Valley Vikings beat the Portsmouth Notre Dame Titans 13-3 in a Southern Ohio Conference game Monday.

“We made a couple errors and Jeremy struggled to find his own. He got in rhythm and threw the ball a lot better. We made some good defensive plays behind him and then he just shut them down,” said Vikings coach Chad Renfroe.

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Hatfield gave up two runs in the first inning, then settled down to pitch a three-hitter. He struck out nine, walked four and only one run was earned.

After the Vikings fell behind early, they scored six runs in the third inning to take the lead for good.

Tyler Eastham and Dustin Wilson walked, moved up on a wild pitch, and Robbie Powell had a two-run single. Cody Bland hit into a fielder’s choice, Hatfield singled and Brice Sexton had a two-run base hit.

Luke Taylor singled, went to second on a fielder’s choice and scored on a hit by J.J. Huff.

The Titans got a run back in the bottom of the third, but Symmes Valley answered with five runs in the fourth.

Bland and Hatfield singled and Sexton walked to load the bases. Taylor doubled home a pair and Huff drove in a run with a fielder’s choice.

The final two runs scored in the seventh. Powell walked, Bland doubled and Sexton singled for a run. Taylor doubled to drive in the final run.

Symmes Valley (2-0, 1-0) visits South Point Thursday.

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Jeremy Hatfield and Cody Bland. Kevin Delabar, John Malone (3) and Trey LaValley. W-Hatfield (9-K, 4-BB, 1-ER). L-Delabar (6-H 6-R, 6-BB, 0-K). 2B-SV: Cody Bland, Luke Taylor. Hitting-Symmes Valley: Luke Taylor 4-5 (2rbi), Robbie Powell 2-4 (3 rbi), Cody Bland 2-5, Jeremy Hatfield 2-4, Brice Sexton 2-4, J.J. Huff 1-5. Notre Dame: Davis 1-4, John Malone 2-4.