AID — The bats are back.

After a three-game slump, the Symmes Valley Vikings banged out 14 hits as they routed the Portsmouth Clay Panthers 17-1 Wednesday in a Southern Ohio Conference game.

“Our bats finally came alive after three games. We finally got back on track and Jeremy had another good outing. And the defense was good,” said Vikings coach Chad Renfroe.

Jeremy Hatfield got the win as he struck out eight, walked two and gave up four hits. He also went 2-for-4 with a pair of home runs and six runs batted in.

“He played very well tonight,” said Renfroe.

The Vikings got a run in the first when Easthom doubled, moved up on a wild pitch and Ethan Wilson hit a sacrifice fly.

The lead went to 2-0 in the second on a double by Brice Sexton and a single by Luke Taylor.

Symmes Valley erupted for seven runs in the third inning with Hatfield hitting a three-run homer. Gage Patterson also had a two-run single in the uprising.

Hatfield slammed a two-run shot to start an eight-run fourth.

The Vikings used four walks, a single by Huff, a double by Cody Bland, and a two-run double by Robbie Powell.

Symmes Valley (4-2, 3-0) visits South Gallia Thursday.

Portsmouth Clay00010=132

Symmes Valley1178x=17141

Blanton Pollard (4) and Parker. Jeremy Hatfield and Cody Bland. W-Hatfield (1-ER, 8-K, 2-BB). L-Blanton (11-H, 11-R, 4-K, 3-BB). 2B-SV: Tyler Easthom, Ethan Wilson, Robbie Powell, Cody Bland, Brice Sexton, Luke Taylor. HR-SV: Jeremy Hatfield 2. Hitting-Clay: Robinson 1-3, Kirkpatrick 1-3, Blanton 1-2, Ratcliff 1-2; Symmes Valley: Tyler Easthom 2-3, Ethan Wilson 2-2, Robbie Powell 2-4, Cody Bland 1-2, Jeremy Hatfield 2-4 (6 rbi), Brice Sexton 2-3, Luke Talor 2-3, J.J. Huff 1-2, Gage Patterson 1-2.