Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

ASHLAND, Ky. — The results on the scoreboard weren’t what the Symmes Valley Lady Vikings might have wanted, but there were some other results that proved very positive.

The Lady Vikings played three games over the weekend in the Russell and Ashland tournaments.

Symmes Valley fell to Russell 15-5 on Friday, then outscored Ashland 12-10 on Saturday before falling to Spring Valley 10-0 in Saturday’s second game.

Despite the two losses, Lady Vikings’ coach Jeff “Odie” Estep was pleased with how well his team hit against the strong competition.

“We grew up a lot this weekend. I’m proud of the way we hit the ball against three quality pitchers. I doubt we face anybody better,” said Estep.

On Friday, Kara Saunders doubled home a run in the second inning and Taylor Webb had a two-run double in the fourth inning that gave the Lady Vikings a 4-3 lead.

Russell tied the game in the bottom of the inning but Sarah Kingery tripled in a run in the top of the fifth to lead 5-4.

The Lady Red Devils got four runs in the bottom of the fifth to lead 8-5 and then erupted for seven runs in the sixth inning to end the game.

Cassie Fultz and Sara Hieneman each hit home runs in the uprising.

Webb led the offense as she went 3-4 with two doubles and two RBIs. Kingery was 2-3 with a double and a triple, Hannah Mays was 2-3 and Saunders 1-2 with a double.

The Lady Vikings bounced back on Saturday to beat the Ashland Kittens.

Symmes Valley snapped a tie with two runs in the seventh inning.

Stephanie Brown reached on an error and Payne drove her home with a one-out double. Payne moved up on a wild pitch and scored when Tiara Hatfield reached on a fielder’s choice.

Payne and Webb both doubled home a run in a four-run first inning. The Lady Vikings scored three runs in the fifth when Caitlin Carpenter hit a sacrifice fly and Webb drilled a two-run double.

Brown got the win in relief and went 2-4 with a double. Webb was 3-5 with two doubles, Payne went 2-4 with two doubles and two RBIs while Kingery was 2-2 with two RBIs.

In the second game on Saturday, Haley Caldwell pitched a four-hitter and also went 3-3 with two home runs and a double as Spring Valley downed the Lady Vikings 10-0.

Taylor Brumfield was 2-3 with a double and a home run as the Lady Timberwolves had 12 hits.

The Lady Vikings got hits from Megan McComas, Kingery, Brown and Hatfield.

Symmes Valley hosts Portsmouth Notre Dame on Monday.

Friday’s Game

Sym. Valley 020 210 = 5 8 6

Russell 300 147 = 15 12 3

Sarah Kingery, Kaitlyn Payne (5) and Tiara Hatfield. Haven Layne and Emma Ison. W-Ison (K-3, BB-3). L-Kingery (IP-4.1, K-4, BB-1, H-4, R-4, ER-2). Payne (IP-1.2, K-1, BB-4, H-8, R-11, ER-7). Hitting-SV: Taylor Webb 3-4 2-2B rbi-2, Sarah Kingery 2-3 2B 3B rbi, Kara Saunders 1-2 2B rbi, Hannah Mays 2-3, Tiara Hatfield 1-3; Russell: Cassie Fultz 2-4 HR, Anna Lee Miller 2-4, Sara Hieneman 2-3 HR, Makayla Fraley 2-3 3B, Caitlyn Gullett 2-4 3B, Ali Hartman 1-3, Emma Ison 1-3.

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Saturday

Sym. Valley 401 131 2 = 12 11 0

Ashland 013 303 0 = 10 10 4

Sarah Kingery, Kara Saunders (3), Stephanie Brown (4) and Tiara Hatfield. Megan Murphy and Sydney Campbell. W-Brown (IP-3.1, K-5, BB-5, R-3, ER-1, H-3). Kingery (IP-2.1, K-2, BB-2, H-5, R-4, ER-3). Saunders (IP-1.3, K-0, BB-3, R-3, ER-1). L-Murphy (K-6, BB-4). Hitting-SV: Taylor Webb 3-5 2-2B rbi, Kaitlyn Payne 2-4 2-2B rbi-2, Sarah Kingery 2-2 rbi-2, Stephanie Brown 2-4 2B, Caitlin Carpenter 1-3 rbi-3 SF; APB: Murphy 3-5 2B 3B, Mattie Shivel 3-4 3-2B, Zoe Ingram 1-2 2B, Sydney Campbell 1-5.

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Saturday

Sym. Valley 000 000 = 0 4 0

Spring Valley 101 143 = 10 12 1

Kaitlyn Payne, Sarah Kingery (5) and Tiara Hatfield. Haley Caldwell and Haleigh Christopher. W-Caldwell (K-3, BB-1). L-Payne (IP-4, K-3, BB-3, R-5, ER-4, H-7). Kingery (IP-2, K-0, BB-0, H-5, R-5, ER-5). Hitting–Sym. Valley: Stephanie Brown 1-2, Tiara Hatfield 1-2, Megan McComas 1-1, Sarah Kingery 1-2; Spring Valley: Haley Caldwell 3-3 2-HR 2B, Karlee Alderman 2-4, Brooke Jackson 2-4, Haleigh Christopher 2-4 2B, Taylor Scott 2-4, Taylor Brumfield 2-3 2B HR.