Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

SCIOTOVILLE — The young Symmes Valley Vikings found out that hard work does pay off.
The Vikings shook off two straight losses and beat the Sciotoville East Tartans 12-8 in a Southern Ohio Conference game on Wednesday.
“They’ve been playing hard. Tonight, they kind of put things together. We hit the ball and we cut down on our errors. They’re getting better and getting some confidence. They needed a win,” said Vikings’ coach Chad Renfroe.
A trio of Vikings’ pitchers gave up just four hits but walked eight and hit two batters. Caden Brammer went the first four innings for the win. Devin Renfroe picked up the save.
The Vikings went up 1-0 in the first when Brammer singled, stole second and Levi Niece singled.
After East scored two in the second, the Vikings took the lead for good with two runs in the third.
Brammer walked, Ethan Patterson singled, both moved up on a double steal and scored on Renfroe’s base hit.
The lead went to 7-2 in the top of the fourth.
Logan Justice singled, Nick Strow walked and they pulled off a double steal. Brammer singled in both runners, moved up on a passed and Patterson had an RBI single.
Patterson then stole second and came around on two wild pitches.
The Tartans got within 7-5 but the Vikings scored three in the sixth.
Brammer walked, Patterson singled, another double steal moved them up and Niece was safe on an error for two runs. Renfroe then singled home Niece.
East countered with two runs in the bottom of the inning but the Vikings got two runs in the seventh.
Griffin Hill singled, Riley Robinson put down a sacrifice bunt, Strow and Brammer walked to load the bases and Patterson had a two-run single.
Patterson finished 4-5, Brammer 2-2 and Renfroe 2-5.
Sym. Valley 102 403 2 = 12 11 3
Sciotoville 020 213 0 = 8 4 1
Caden Brammer, Tanner McComas (5), Devin Renfroe (7) and Nick Strow. T. Winston and B. Bradley. W-Brammer (IP-4.0, H-3, R-4, ER-2, BB-3, K-6, HBP-2). McComas (IP-2.0, H-1, R-4, ER-4, BB-4, HBP-1). Renfroe (IP-1.0, K-3, BB-1). L-Winston. Hitting-SV: Caden Brammer 2-2, Ethan Patterson 4-5, Levi Niece 1-4, Devin Renfroe 2-5, Griffin Hill 1-4, Logan Justice 1-3; East: T. Winston 1-3, L. Bradley 1-3, B. Bradley 1-3, K. Winston 1-2.