Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PORTSMOUTH — The Symmes Valley Vikings turned stingy on Monday.

Chayden Renfroe allowed only two hits and his teammates did not make an error as the Vikings beat the Portsmouth Clay Panthers 4-1 in a Southern Ohio Conference game.

“We played pretty well. Chayden threw a nice game. He walked more than I liked but he didn’t give up any hits that could have hurt us,” said Vikings’ coach Chad Renfroe.

“Our defense played really well. We didn’t have any errors and Cameron played a couple of nice plays on bunts.”

Renfroe struck out three, walked five and the only two hits came in the first inning.

Clay (9-12, 6-5) got its run in the first inning on a single by Grant Hempill, a sacrifice and Wyatt Large’s RBI single.

Symmes Valley (6-9, 6-4) took the lead with two runs in the fourth.

Nick Klaiber singled, Blake Bowen walked and Derek Brace had a two-run double.

The Vikings got two more runs in the sixth.

Bowen single, Laykin Gothard singled and an outfield error scored a run. Gothard went to third on the error and scored on a passed ball.

The two teams meet at Symmes Valley on Tuesday.

Sym. Valley 000 202 0 = 4 5 0

Ports. Clay 100 000 0 = 1 2 1

Chayden Renfroe and Cameron Meadows. Brody Riffe, Cole Gilliland (5) and Wyatt Large. W-Renfroe (K-3, BB-5). L-Riffe (K-4, BB-7). Hitting-SV: Laykin Gothard 1-2, Jase Patterson 1-4, Nick Klaiber 1-2, Blake Bowen 1-2, Derek Brace 1-3; Clay: Grant Hempill 1-4, Wyatt Large 1-3.