Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

AID — Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good. Just ask the luckless Symmes Valley Lady Vikings after losing 8-4 to the Eastern Lady Eagles in the Division IV sectional finals.
Eastern had 13 hits and the Lady Vikings had 12. However, the Lady Vikings hit into double plays in the first, third and sixth innings.
“We hit into three line-drive double plays. It just wasn’t meant for us to win tonight,” said Lady Vikings’ coach Jeff “Odie” Estep.
Despite the bad luck, Estep said that wasn’t the reason for the loss. He said Eastern earned the victory.
“I’m not taking anything away from them. They hit the ball hard and played pretty good defense,” said Lady Estep.
“But I’m not taking anything away from our girls. We hit some shots, we pitched well and we played good defense. I can’t fault our effort. We played well.”
The Lady Vikings got a run in the first inning when Morgan Jenkins singled, Sarah Kingery walked and Kara Saunders doubled.
The lead went to 3-0 in third.
Jenkins got a one-out single, Kingery walked and Saunders reached on an error as a run scored. Emily Estep followed with an RBI single.
Eastern took the lead with four runs in the top of the fourth.
Leah Compton and Breanna Carroll doubled for a run and Chloe Dixon singled for a run. Mackenzie Greene was safe on an error and Shaelyn Tomlison doubled in the fourth run.
The Lady Eagles made it 6-3 in the fifth.
Madison Southworth and Compton and Carroll all singled for a run and Dixon hit into a fielder’s choice as a run scored.
Eastern pushed across two more runs in the sixth.
Tomlison, Olivia Hatfield and Southworth all singled, Compton walked to force in a run and Carroll had an RBI single.
The Lady Vikings got a run scored in the sixth when Rachael Hayes, Kingery and Estep all singled. But a line drive double play ended the threat.
The loss meant the final game for seniors Kingery, Saunders and Ross.
“We had three seniors who had great careers and did great things for us. We appreciate all they have done,” said coach Estep of Ross, Saunders and Kingery.
Jenkins went 3-5 while Emily Estep and Hunter were 2-4 to pace the Lady Vikings’ offense.
Eastern 000 422 0 = 8 13 2
Sym. Valley 102 001 0 = 4 12 1
Shaelyn Tomlison and Mackenzie Greene. Sarah Kingery, Kara Saunders (4) and Ericca Ross. W-Tomlison (K-2, BB-4, HBP-1). L-Kingery (IP-3.0, H-6, R-4, ER-3, K-2, BB-0). Saunders (IP-4.0, H-7, R-4, ER-3, K-3, BB-1). Hitting-BE: Olivia Hatfield 3-4 2B, Breanna Carroll 3-4 2B, Shaelyn Tomlison 2-4 2B, Madison Southworth 2-4, Leah Compton 1-3, Atlantis Adkins 1-4, Chloe Dixon 1-4; SV: Morgan Jenkins 3-5, Emily Estep 2-4, Payton Hunter 2-4, Emily Sharp 1-4 2B, Ericca Ross 1-3, Kara Saunders 1-4 2B, Sarah Kingery 1-1 3-bb, Rachael Hayes 1-5.