Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PORTSMOUTH — The Symmes Valley Lady Vikings got their offense going.

The Lady Vikings had 12 hits as they beat the Portsmouth Clay Lady Panthers 11-6 Thursday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

“We hit the ball well and got our offense going,” said Lady Vikings’ coach Jeff “Odie” Estep.

“But we have to finish. We had a chance to end the game early. You can’t relax when you get a big lead. We have to learn that.”

Symmes Valley (9-4, 7-2) built and 8-0 lead going into the bottom of the fourth.

Brenna Ross singled, moved up on a fielder’s choice and scored on two passed balls in the first.

The lead went to 5-0 in the second.

Autumn Keathley and Stephanie Brown reached on errors, Ross and Kaitlyn Payne walked for a run and Tiara Hatfield singled home two runs. A fourth run scored on a throwing error from the outfield.

Morris singled with one out, moved up on two wild pitches and scored on a hit by Caitlin Carpenter and it was 6-0 in the third.

Two runs scored in the top of the fourth.

Ross was safe on an error, Payne singled, a wild pitch moved the runners up and Hatfield hit a sacrifice fly. Hannah Maynard then singled in a run.

The final three runs scored in the fifth.

Carpenter walked, Brown was safe on an error and Ross singled to load the bases. Payne singled home two runs and Hatfield hit another sacrifice fly.

Sym. Valley 141 230 0 = 11 12 2

Ports. Clay 000 240 0 = 6 11 6

Kaitlyn Payne and Tiara Hatfield. Danielle Cline and Rachel Cooper. W-Payne (K-6, BB-3). L-Cline (K5, BB-4). Hitting-SV: Kaitlyn Payne 2-4, Sierra Ross 2-3, Tiara Hatfield 2-4, Brenna Morris 2-5, Hannah Mays 1-4, Hannah Maynard 1-5, Autumn Keathley 1-4, Caitlin Carpenter 1-3; Clay: Rachel Cooper 2-4, Danielle Cline 2-4, Camryn Whitley 2-4, Gabby Hickman 1-3, Mekayla Osborne 2-3, Sydney Carter 1-3.