By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

PORTSMOUTH — The Symmes Valley Vikings have their own “child of the Corn.”

Mitchell Corn pitched a three-hitter and drove in two runs as the Vikings beat the Portsmouth Notre Dame Titans 7-6 on Tuesday in a key Southern Ohio Conference game.

Corn struck out four, walked eight and only three of the runs were earned. Notre Dame pitchers combined for 10 walks.

“Mitchell pitched one heck of a ball game,” said Vikings’ coach Chad Renfroe. “I was proud of all the kids. They played hard. This was a big win for them.”

The Vikings are now 5-5 overall but tie Notre Dame for first place in the conference at 5-1.

The Titans went up 1-0 in the first when Tyler Noel walked, Will Haney put down a sacrifice and Noel scored on a ground out.

The Vikings scored four times in the second to take the lead for good.

Dylan Pelletier singled Jordan Fulford and Scott Dial walked and D.J. Miller reached on an outfield error as three runs scored. Alec Herrell was hit by a pitch and Cody Myers had an RBI single.

Three more runs scored in the top of the fourth.

Herrell walked, Myers reached on an error and Tanner Mays singled in a run. Garrett Foster walked and Corn delivered a two-run single.

The Titans got three runs back in the bottom of the inning. Matt Malone doubled, Michael Mader walked, a passed ball, Dakota Smith’s two-run singled and an error.

Notre Dame scored two in the fifth when Brad Pierron walked, Mader and Smith walked and the Vikings were guilty of a two-run error.

Sym. Valley 040 300 0 = 7 4 3

Notre Dame 100 320 0 = 6 3 2

Mitchell Corn and Alec Herrell. Tyler Noel, Will Haney (4) and Michael Mader. W-Corn (K-4, BB-8, ER-3). L-Noel (H-2, R-7, ER-3, K-5, BB-7, HBP-1). Haney H-4, K-2, BB-3, R-0. 2B-PND: Matthew Malone. Hitting-Symmes Valley: Cody Myers 1-4, Tanner Mays 1-2, Mitchell Corn 1-3, Dylan Pelletier 1-3; Notre Dame: Matthew Malone 1-4, Dakota Smith 1-2, Brad Pierron 1-3.