Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

AID — Nothing like a little pitching to overcome your inexperience.
While the Symmes Valley Vikings are young and inexperienced, pitchers Chayden Renfroe, Laykin Gothard and Payton Hayes performed like the veterans they are in a 10-2, 17-2 doubleheader sweep of the South Gallia Rebels on Saturday.
Renfroe pitched five innings in the opener. He struck out 13, walked four and allowed just three hits.
Gothard — who pitched an inning in the opener — went four innings in the nightcap and got 12 strikeouts as he and Hayes combined on a no-hitter. Hayes struck out one and walked one.
“Our pitching was pretty good but we weren’t real aggressive at the plate, but that could be first game jitters,” said Vikings’ coach Chad Renfroe.
“We have so many kids who haven’t played, it’s going to take some time to get things going.”
Renfroe was 3-4 and Forest Humphrey was 2-4 with two doubles and three runs batted in to lead the Vikings’ 10-2 win.
The Vikings took a 2-0 lead in the third inning with the aid of two errors.
South Gallia got two runs in the top of the fifth but the Vikings scored four in the bottom of the inning.
Renfroe and Hunter Adams singled, Payton Hayes was safe on an error for a run.  Humphrey doubled in a pair and then came home on an error.
Four more runs scored in the sixth.
Austin Waugh walked and Renfroe and Brace singled for a run. Hayes singled in a run and Humphreys doubled in the final run.
The Vikings pounded out 12 hits in the nightcap. Gothard was 2-4, Hayes 2-3 and Renfroe 2-3 to lead the offense.
Symmes Valley visits Chesapeake on Monday.
First Game
South Gallia    000    020    0    =    2    5    5
Sym. Valley    002    044    x    =    10    9    3
Kemper and Coughenour. Chayden Renfroe, Laykin Gothard (6), Payton Hayes (7) and Derek Brace. W-Renfroe (IP-5, H-3, K-13, BB-4, HBP-1). Gothard K-2, H-1, BB-0. Hayes (H-1, K-0, BB-0. Hitting-SG: Kemper 1-2, Rutt 2-4, Bryan 1-1, Luther 1-3 2B; SV: Laykin Gothard 1-4, Chayden Renfroe 3-4, Derek Brace 1-2, Hunter Adams 1-4, Payton Hayes 1-2, Forest Humphrey 2-4 2-2B 3-RBI.
Second Game
South Gallia        100    10    =    2    0    8
Sym. Valley        257    3x    =    17    12    3
Woodall and Coughenour. Gothard, Hayes (5) and Derek Brace. W-Gothard (K-12, BB-3, HBP-1). Hayes K-1, BB-1. L-Woodall. Hitting-SV: Laykin Gothard 2-4, Payton Hayes 2-3, Chayden Renfroe 2-2, Jack Leith 1-1, Forest Humphrey 1-2, Derek Brace 1-3, Hunter Adams 1-3, Levi Cade 1-3, Austin Waugh 1-2.