Mart, Lady Vikings beat Eastern to reach district finals

Published 1:19 am Wednesday, May 15, 2024

By JIM WALKER

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

RIO GRANDE — In the words of The 3 Musketeers, “All For One and One For All.”

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The Symmes Valley Lady Vikings used a team effort to beat the Beaver Eastern Lady Eagles 8-1 and win their Division 4 district semifinal game Tuesday at the University of Rio Grande.

Savannah Mart fired a 3-hitter, struck out 10 and walked only one as the Lady Vikings (20-6) advanced to the district finals at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday against Lucasville Valley at Rio Grande.

“Savannah threw the ball well, we hit the ball well and we played good defense. It was a good team effort,” said Lady Vikings’ coach Jeff “Odie” Estep.

“I was concerned about being off for so long and they have a pitcher who throws well, but Savannah didn’t miss a beat and she helped herself by going 3-for-4 and 4 RBI.”

Eastern took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Hannah Nickell was hit by a pitch, moved up on a ground out and passed ball and scored on a ground out.

But the Lady Vikings came right back with 3 runs in the bottom of the inning.

Emma Ridenour was safe on an error and Brenna Tibbs tripled her home. Desiree Simpson was on by an error, Marley Ferguson singled and Mart had a 2-run single.

The lead went to 5-1 in the fourth.

Autumn Justice singled, Tibbs doubled and Simpson hit into a fielder’s choice as the run scored.

Symmes Valley got another run in the fifth when Mart singled, Addi Ridenour doubled and Kaycee Thompson hit a sacrifice fly.

The Lady Vikings capped the scoring with 3 runs in the sixth.

Justice , Tibbs and Simpson all singled to load the bases.and Ferguson hit a sacrifice fly. The runners advanced on the throw home and Mart singled in both runners.

Tibbs was 4-4 with a double, triple and an RBI while Mart was 3-4 with 4 RBI as the Lady Vikings banged out 12 hits.

Ferguson and Justice each went 1-3 while Simpson, Addi Ridenour and Emma Ridenour all went 1-4.

Eastern     100 000 0 = 1 3 2

Sym. Valley 300 113 x = 8 12 1

Hannah Felts and Megan Nickell. Savannah Mart and Kaycee Thompson. W-Mart (IP-7.0, H-3, R-1, ER-0, K-10, BB-1). L-Feltz (IP-6.0, H-12, R-08, ER-6, K-9, BB-1). Hitting-Eastern: Madison Shuler 1-3, Braelyn Bevins 1-2, Aubrey Quillen 1-3; Symmes Valley: Brenna Tibbs 4-4 2B 3B RBI, Savannah Mart 3-4 4-RBI, Emma Ridenour 1-4, Desiree Simpson 1-4, Marley Ferguson 1-3, Addi Ridenour 1-4, Autumn Justice 1-3.