Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PORTSMOUTH — It took a while, but the timely hits finally came.
Trailing after four innings, the Symmes Valley Lady Vikings rallied to beat the Portsmouth Notre Dame Lady Titans 5-4 in a Southern Ohio Conference game on Wednesday.
The Lady Vikings left runners at second and third bases in the first inning, one first and second twice, and they left the bases loaded in the third.
“We couldn’t get a timely hit until the fifth inning,” said Lady Vikings’ coach Jeff “Odie” Estep.
“It was an excellent win after last night. The kids rebounded and played good defense. Sarah (Kingery) kept the ball down and did a good job hitting her spots.”
Notre Dame took a 4-0 lead after three innings and then the Lady Vikings tied the game in the fifth.
Kingery reached on an error, Rachael Hayes put down a sacrifice, Taylor Webb was walked intentionally and then Kara Saunders and Ericca Ross both walked to force in a run.
Emily Estep got the first clutch hit as she singled home two runs and Kelsey Gothard singled in the fourth run.
The Lady Vikings scored the winning run in the seventh.
Gothard walked with one out, Emily Sharp singled with two outs and Kingery singled home the go-ahead run.
Kingery went 3-5 with a double and run batted in as the Lady Vikings had eight hits. Gothard was 2-4 with an RBI and Webb was 1-1.
Symmes Valley plays Oregon Stritch Clay and Jonathan Alder at Gahanna on Saturday.
Sym. Valley 000 040 1 = 5 8 1
Notre Dame 211 00 0 = 4 10 3
Sarah Kingery and Ericca Ross. Cassie Schaefer and Baylee Webb. W-Kingery (K-5, BB-1). L-Schaefer (K-9, BB-7). Hitting-SV: Sarah Kingery 3-5 2B rbi, Taylor Webb 1-1, Emily Estep 1-4 2-rbi, Kelsey Gothard 2-4 rbi, Emily Sharp 1-4; PND: Collins 2-3, Katie Dettwiller 2-4, Taylor Schmidt 2-4, Molly Hoover 1-3, Cassie Schaefer 1-4, Baylee Webb 1-3, Chloe Delabar 1-3.