Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PORTSMOUTH — One team cashed in on the other’s mistakes, and one team didn’t.
The Symmes Valley Lady Vikings had six errors and the Portsmouth Clay Lady Panthers seven, but it was Clay that used the mistakes to their advantage in a 17-9 Southern Ohio Conference win on Wednesday.
“We hit right with them, but they were able to capitalize on our errors,” said Lady Vikings’ coach Jeff “Odie” Estep.
The Lady Vikings got a run in the first when Taylor Webb singled, stole second, took third on an error and came home when Ericca Ross grounded out.
Clay (9-3, 7-0) got three runs in the first and used four errors to score seven runs in the second inning to lead 10-1.
Clay scored six runs with two outs in the second, three runs with two outs in the third and three more runs with two outs in the sixth.
In the Lady Vikings’ third, Sarah Kingery reached on an error, Morgan Jenkins was safe on a fielder’s choice, Webb singled and Kara Saunders doubled home a pair.
Estep singled, Hailee Littlejohn reached on a fielder’s choice, they moved up on a wild pitch and Kingery had an RBI single. Webb then doubled home a pair of runs and it was 16-6.
The Lady Vikings’ final three runs scored in the sixth.
Kingery reached on an error, Jenkins singled and Webb doubled them home. Ross followed with an RBI single.
Webb had a huge game for the Lady Vikings as she went 4-for-4 with two doubles and four runs batted in.
Saunders also had a big game by going 2-4 with a double and two RBI. Jenkins was 2-4 as the Lady Vikings had 11 hits.
Symmes Valley hosts Clay on Friday.
Sym. Valley    102    303    0    =    9    11    6
Ports. Clay    373    103    x    =    17    19    7
Sarah Kingery, Kara Saunders (4) and Ericca Ross. Julia Swain and Cassidy Wells. W-Swain. Hitting-SV: Taylor Webb 4-4 2-2B 4-rbi, Kara Saunders 2-4 2B 2-rbi, Morgan Jenkins 2-4, Sarah Kingery 1-4, Emily Estep 1-4, Rachael Hayes 1-4, Ericca Ross 1-4, Kara Saunders 1-4; Clay: Hannah Oliver 4-5, Julia Swain 4-5, Megan Bazler 3-5, Shae Vassar 2-5, Lila Brown 2-5, Kat Cochran 1-5.