BEAVER — The Symmes Valley Vikings haven’t reached the top of the ladder, but they’re near the top rung.

The Vikings routed the Eastern Eagles 12-2 in six innings Tuesday to clinch at least a tie for the Southern Ohio Conference title.

“It was nice to win and stay unbeaten in the league, but we have a couple of tough games ahead so we can’t let down,” said Vikings’ coach Chad Renfroe.

Symmes Valley is 11-1 overall and 10-0 in the SOC. The Vikings visit Portsmouth Notre Dame on Wednesday.

The Vikings took a 3-0 lead in the first inning.

Tyler Easthom was hit by a pitch, Cody Bland walked and Jeremy Hatfield hit a sacrifice fly. Luke Taylor was hit by a pitch and Ethan Wilson had a two-run double.

Three more runs scored in the second inning.

Gage Patterson singled, Easthom doubled and Powell had an RBI single. Hatfield followed with a two-run single.

Symmes Valley had three more runs in the fourth inning to make it 9-2.

Bland, Taylor and Dustin Wilson all doubled for two runs and Cody Myers had an RBI single.

A run scored in the fifth when Powell reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second and third, and Hatfield had a run-scoring single.

The final two runs scored in the sixth to create the mercy rule win.

Ethan Wilson doubled, moved up on a wild pitch, Myers walked and advanced on a wild pitch, and Easthom had a two-run single.

Powell got the win as he struck out 11, walked three and allowed four hits.

Eathom was 3-3, Ethan Wilson and Dustin Wilson 2-3 and Hatfield 2-4 as the Vikings collected 14 hits.

The Vikings visit Portsmouth Notre Dame on Wednesday.

Sym. Valley 330 312 = 12 14 2

Eastern 101 000 = 2 4 2

Robbie Powell and Cody Bland. Osborne, Swiget (2) and Stump. W-Powell (11-K, 3-BB). L-Osborne. 2B-SV: Tyler Easthom, Cody Bland, Luke Taylor, Ethan Wilson 2, Dustin Wilson; Eastern: Swiget. HR-Eastern: Osborne. Hitting-Symmes Valley: Tyler Easthom 3-3, Robbie Powell 1-4, Cody Bland 1-4, Jeremy Hatfield 2-4, Luke Taylor 1-3, Ethan Wilson 2-3, Dustin Wilson 2-3, Cody Myers 1-3, Gage Patterson 1-3; Eastern: Swiget 2-4, Osborne 1-4, Harris 1-2, 1-2, Hale 1-3.