MINFORD — Instead of a six-shooter, the Symmes Valley Lady Vikings used a quick shooter.

In rapid fire fashion, the Lady Vikings took the lead to start the game, then battled behind Nikki Nance’s three-hitter and a strong defensive effort to edge the South Webster Lady Jeeps 2-1 Saturday in the Div. IV district finals.

“It was a bang-bang game. It all happened in the first two innings and then the pitchers pretty much too over. I can’t say enough for the defense behind Nance,” said Lady Vikings’ coach Jeff “Odie” Estep.

“There were a lot of nice defensive plays on both sides. We hit the ball hard and we hit about four balls in the gap and they made nice running catches and we did the same.”

Nance struck out four and walked two in going the distance. The Lady Jeeps’ Brittany Ellifritt gave up only two hits — both in the first inning — while striking out five and walking two.

The Lady Vikings scored both their runs in the first inning and pitcher Nance made them stand up.

Jessie Morris reached on an error to lead off the inning, then stole second and third. Nance had a bunt single to put runners on the corners.

With one out, Nance stole second base and both runners scored on a hit by Chelsea Wall.

The Lady Jeeps got their run in the second when Bentley doubled, moved up on a sacrifice bunt and scored on an errant pickoff attempt.

Each team managed to get two runners to third base and two runners to second, but neither team could cash in.

“That’s the way a district final should be played. Neither team deserved to lose, but we were fortunate to come out on top,” said Estep.

Symmes Valley (23-5) will play in the regional tournament at 5 p.m. Thursday in Pickerington against SOC foe Portsmouth Clay.

The two teams split their regular season games. Clay won 3-2 and the Lady Vikings came back to win 3-1.

So. Webster 010 000 0 = 1 3 3

Sym. Valley 200 000 x = 2 2 3

Brittany Ellifritt and Kaci Messer. Nikki Nance and Chelsea Wall. W-Nance (4-K, 2-BB). L-Ellifritt (5-K, 2-BB). 2B-SoWeb: Bentley. Hitting-South Webster: Rawlins 1-3, Bentley 1-3, Messer 1-3; Symmes Valley: Chelsea Wall 1-3, Nikki Nance 1-2.