Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

AID — Staying focused is all the Symmes Valley Lady Vikings want to do.

The Lady Vikings are making an effort to take it “one game at a time” including Friday’s 12-2 five-inning Southern Ohio Conference win over the New Boston Lady Tigers.

“We approach each game the same. We don’t take anyone lightly, especially when it’s a league game,” said Lady Vikings’ coach Jeff “Odie” Estep.

“We started a little slow, but our hitting picked up and Payne pitched a nice game.”

Kaitlyn Payne tossed a six-hitter to get the win as she struck out nine and walked just one.

Symmes Valley (9-0, 8-0) banged out 13 hits led by Hannah Mays who went 3-for-3, Taylor Webb 3-4 with two doubles and three runs batted in, and Payne who was 3-4 with a double and two RBI.

Stephanie Brown walked, moved up on a wild pitch and scored on Webb’s double as the Lady Vikings went up 1-0 in the first inning.

The lead went to 2-0 in the second when Mays and Caitlin Carpenter both singled, moved up on a wild pitch and Brenna Morris grounded out.

New Boston got a run in the top of the third, but the Lady Vikings answered with five in the bottom of the inning,

Webb and Payne singled, moved up on a wild pitch and Tiara Hatfield had an RBI single. Sierra Ross and Mays each followed with two-run doubles.

The Lady Tigers had a run in the fourth, but the Lady Vikings enjoyed another five-run inning.

Ross reached on an error, moved up on a wild pitch, Mays singled and a throwing error scored Ross.

Carpenter hit into a fielder’s choice, Morris was safe on an error for a run, Brown singled and Webb had a two-run double. Payne then doubled in the final run.

Symmes Valley hosts Sciotoville East on Monday.

New Boston 001 10 = 2 6 3

Sym. Valley 115 05 = 12 13 2

Tasha Poole and Speas. Kaitlyn Payne and Tiara Hatfield. W-Payne (K-9, BB-1). L-Poole. Hitting—NB: Madison Salisbury 2-2, Mariah Buckley 2-3, Blankenship 1-2, Ali Hamilton 1-1; SV: Hannah Mays 3-3, Kaitlyn Payne 3-4 rbi-2 2B, Taylor Webb 3-4 rbi-3 2-2B, Caitlin Carpenter 1-3, Sierra Ross 1-3, Tiara Hatfield 1-3, Stephanie Brown 1-4.