Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

AID — Pitching was the key word.

The Symmes Valley Lady Vikings got good pitching from Kaitlyn Payne, but their opponents had plenty of good pitching themselves.

As a result, the Lady Vikings split two games Saturday in the annual Valley of Thunder softball classic.

Lorain Clearview’s Kagg threw a two-hit shutout in the first game. She struck out 18 and did not walk a batter.

“That’s the best pitcher we’ve faced this year,” said Lady Vikings’ coach Jeff “Odie” Estep.

“But the girls battled in both games. In the second game they kept battling and it paid off with a couple of runs in the seventh inning and we won.”

Hannah Maynard had a double and Payne a single for the Lady Vikings’ hits.

Payne struck out eight and walked two in taking the loss.

In the second game, Upper Arlington led 3-2 after six innings, but the Lady Vikings scored twice in the bottom of the seventh to beat the Division I program.

Stephanie Brown singled, stole second, went to third on an out and scored when Payne reached on a throwing error.

Tiara Hatfield singled to put runners on the corners and then stole second. Hananh Mays ended the game with a sacrifice fly to score Payne.

Payne got the win with a seven-hitter. She struck out four and walked two.

First Game

Clearview 012 000 3 = 6 10 1

Sym. Valley 000 000 0 = 0 2 2

Kagg and Jannis. Kaitlyn Payne and Tiara Hatfield. W-Kagg (K-18, BB-0). L-Payne (K-7, BB-2). Hitting-Clearview: Kagg 4-4, Jasinski 2-3, Stawbol 1-4, Hawthorne 1-2; SV: Kaitlyn Payne 1-3, Hannah Maynard 1-2. 2B-Clearview: Kaggs, Jasinski; SV: Hannah Maynard.

Second Game

Upper Arlington 001 011 0 = 3 7 3

Sym. Valley 200 000 2 = 4 8 0

Kegley and Good. Kaitlyn Payne and Tiara Hatfield. W-Payne (K-4, BB-2). L-Kegley (K-3, BB-2). Hitting-UA: Vazquez 3-4, Keller 2-4, Brice 1-3, Watchman 1-4; SV: Tiara Hatfield 2-4, Stephanie Brown 1-3, Caitlin Carpenter 1-3, Kaitlyn Payne 1-3, Sierra Ross 1-3, Brenna Morris 1-3, Hannah Maynard 1-3. 2B-UA: Vazquez, Keller, Watchman.