ASHLAND, Ohio - High school softball comes down to pitching, but Saturday's Division IV state championship game came down to the final pitch.

Trailing 6-2 heading into the top of the seventh inning, Symmes Valley scored twice and had the bases loaded with no outs.

But Crestview pitcher Jamie Perkins struck out the next three batters to end the game and give the Lady Knights the state championship.

Lady Vikings coach Jeff "Odie" Estep knew his team would make a run at Crestview.

"I told the girls before the inning we were going to get something going," Estep said. "We took it down to the last pitch. We were one hit from tying the game and one big hit from taking the lead. They didn't lay down the whole season and I knew they wouldn't quit now."

Errors hurt the Lady Vikings early in the game when they allowed Crestview to erase a 1-0 deficit and score three times in the third inning.

Symmes Valley took the lead in the top of the third inning when Emily Bowling reach on a throwing error by Crestview pitcher Jamie Perkins on an easy roller, went to second base on a wild pitch and scored on Megan Coomes' long double off the fence in center field.

"I didn't know if it was going to be a home run, but I knew they weren't going to catch it, so I sent the runner," Estep said.

But three Lady Viking errors helped Crestview score three times in the bottom of the inning.

With one out, Heather Simindinger was safe on an error. After a pop out, Emily Millay was safe on an error to put runners at second and third bases. Perkins got a base hit to right field scoring Simindinger and Perkins took second base on the throw home.

Katie McClure reached on yet another error as two runs scored.

"In 32 ball games we've made just nine errors. To commit two or three errors, it hurts. You can't do that at this level, but we fought back," Estep said.

The Knights (28-0) built a 6-1 lead with three more runs in the fifth inning with two outs.

Millay, Perkins and McClure all singled for one run. Kristell Johnson followed with a two-run double to left field.

Symmes Valley (28-5) got a run back in the sixth inning.

Rebecca Capper reached on a one-out error and went to second base on a wild pitch. Kristen Crabtree then hit a hard grounder through the first baseman's legs for an error allowing Capper to score.

Then came the big seventh inning.

Kayla Justice beat out an infield roller to open the inning and Erin Martin slapped a double over the leftfielder's head as Justice scored. Bowling singled up the middle to drive in Martin and it was 6-4.

Harmon walked and Coomes was safe on an error to load the bases.

But Perkins was able to reach back and strike out the next three batters and finish with 12 for the game.

"I thought we were going to come back. I thought we were going to make a move," Harmon said of the late rally.

Perkins, now 23-0, walked two, gave up six hits and two earned runs.

Harmon, 21-3, was solid in defeat. She struck out four, did not walk a batter, and only three of the runs she allowed were earned.

"I thought Harmon got a little hot. She works extremely hard and she over exerted herself," Estep said of his pitching ace. "I don't think she was as sharp as some games, but she was still pretty good. We played a real good hitting team."

The trip to the state tournament was the first for any Symmes

Valley team.

"We beat the No. 2-ranked team (Maplewood) in the semifinals, and we almost beat the No. 1-ranked team. We may have got the silver trophy, but we're still winners," Estep said.