Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

CHILLICOTHE — The Symmes Valley Vikings put their best foot forward and consequently walked all over North Adams.

Dillon McFann pitched a four-hitter as the Vikings played a solid all-around game as they beat the North Adams Green Devils 8-2 on Saturday in the Division IV district semifinals.

“They came ready to play. That may have been the best game we’ve played all year,” said Vikings’ coach Chad Renfroe.

“Dillon pitched well. That was the beat game he’s pitched all year. Tylor Carpenter played outstanding in centerfield. We played really good defense all night.”

McFann struck out seven, walked one and only one run was earned.

The Vikings will now play Paint Valley (19-5) at 5 p.m. on Monday in the district finals at Chillicothe Paint Stadium. The Bearcats blanked South Webster 1-0 in the other semifinal game.

The Vikings (17-3) snapped a scoreless tie with four runs in the third inning.

Payton Hayes singled, McFann walked and Tanner Mays singled in a run. Cameron Meadows reached on an error as a run scored, Trent Thompson hit a sacrifice fly and another error scored a run.

Symmes Valley pushed the lead to 7-0 in the fourth.

Hayes was hit by a pitch and Mays and Jacob Klaiber singled for a run. Meadows followed with a hit and Thompson had a two-run single.

The Vikings added an insurance run in the sixth when Klaiber singled, stole second and Meadows singled.

Kenny Branch and Cole Meade both doubled for a run in the seventh and an error scored the second run as North Adams avoided the shutout.

Mays and Meadows were 2-3, Klaiber and Carpenter 2-4 and Thompson 1-3 with three runs batted in as the Vikings collected 11 hits.

North Adams 000 000 2 = 2 4 2

Sym. Valley 004 301 x = 8 11 1

Caleb Wagers, Austin Copas (4) and Kenny Branch. Dillon McFann and Cameron Meadows. W-McFann (K-7, BB-1, ER-1). L-Wagers (IP-3.2, K-4, BB-3, HBP-1, H-8, R-7, ER-5). Copas (IP-2.1, K-3, H-3, ER-1). Hitting-NA: Kenny Branch 1-3 2B, Austin Copas 1-3, Cole Meade 1-3 2B, Caleb Wagers 1-2; SV: Payton Hayes 1-3, Tanner Mays 2-3 rbi, Jacob Klaiber 2-4 rbi, Cameron Meadows 2-3 rbi, Trent Thompson 1-3 rbi-3, Tylor Carpenter 2-4, Chayden Renfroe 1-4.