Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PORTSMOUTH — The Symmes Valley Vikings took one step forward.
The young Vikings have had their ups and downs so far, but on Monday they stepped forward with a 15-2 run-rule win over the Portsmouth Notre Dame Titans in a Southern Ohio Conference game.
Caden Brammer worked 4.1 innings for the win as he allowed three hits, struck out six and walked only one to get the win.
“We played pretty well. We only had one error and two walks. That was a big improvement,” said Vikings’ coach Chad Renfroe.
Brammer was 2-4 at the plate. Tanner McComas was 2-3 and Ethan Patterson 2-4 with a double.
The Vikings took a 4-0 lead in the third.
Brammer singled, stole second and Patterson singled for a run. Levi Niece and Devin Renfroe reached on errors for another run. McComas had an RBI single and Logan Brace hit a sacrifice fly.
The lead went to 9-0 in the fourth.
Brammer was safe on an error, stole second and scored on Patterson’s double. Niece walked and McComas had a two-run single. Griffin Hill walked and Logan Justice hit sacrifice fly.
The Vikings combined seven walks and a hit batsman to scored six runs in the fifth.
Sym. Valley 004 56 = 15 6 1
Notre Dame 000 11 = 2 3 3
Caden Brammer, Tanner McComas (5) and Nick Strow. Chris Schmidt and Ethan Kammer. W-Brammer (IP-4.1, H-3, K-6, 1-BB, 1-ER). McComas (IP-0.2, K-1). L-Schmidt. Hitting-SV: Caden Brammer 2-4, Ethan Patterson 2-4 2B, Tanner McComas 2-3; PND: Ethan Kammer 1-2 2B, Jake Cole 1-2, Chris Schmidt 1-2.