By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

FRANKLIN FURNACE — The Symmes Valley Vikings got what they needed.

The Vikings needed a win to keep pace with Portsmouth Notre Dame in the Southern Ohio Conference race and they did just that with a 7-4 win over the Green Bobcats on Wednesday.

The Vikings are 11-9 overall and 10-1 in the league.

“We hit the ball okay and Mitchell threw pretty well, but we still made some mistakes,” said Vikings’ coach Chad Renfroe. “Still, it wasn’t a bad game. We beat a good team.”

Mitchell Corn picked up the win as he gave up nine hits, struck out three, walked five and only three runs were earned.

The Vikings went up 1-0 in the third when Alec Herrell walked, Scott Dial put down a sacrifice and Cody Myers singled.

Green (17-7, 11-3) took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the inning when Cody Bruce walked, Steve Ratcliff and Adam Riffitt singled for a run and an error scored Ratcliff.

The Vikings scored four runs in the fourth to go up for good at 5-2.

Michael Williams reached on an error, Jordan Fulford walked and Herrell had an RBI single. Dial and Myers were safe on errors for a run and Tanner Mays singled home two more.

Dylan Pelletier singled, Fulford reached on an error and Herrell singled for a run in the fifth and Mays got the final run in the sixth when he singled, stole second and third and scored on an error.

Green mounted a rally in the seventh but only managed two runs.

Rob Applegate walked, Bruce singled and Ratcliff hit into a fielder’s choice for a run. Riffitt singled to drive in the final run.

Sym. Valley 001 411 0 = 7 8 3

Green 002 000 2 = 4 9 5

Mitchell Corn and Alec Herrell. Colton Brammer, Caleb Johnson (6) and Matt Howard. W-Corn (K-3, BB-5, ER-3). L-Brammer (IP-5.1, K-3, BB-2, R-7, ER-2, H-7). Johnson IP-1.2, H-1, K-2, BB-1. Hitting-SV: Alec Herrell 2-4, Scott Dial 1-4, Cody Myers 1-4, Tanner Mays 2-4, Dylan Pelletier 1-3, Jacob Klaiber 1-2; Green: Mike Avery 1-3, Rob Applegate 1-2, Cody Bruce 1-2, Steve Ratcliff 1-3, Adam Riffitt 3-4, Matt Howard 1-4, Caleb Johnson 1-3.