By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

FRANKLIN FURNACE — In their first big league showdown the Green Bobcats really showed up.

The Bobcats combined strong pitching and hitting to beat the Symmes Valley Vikings 11-1 in five innings Wednesday.

“We played pretty well. That was a big league win for us,” said Green coach Dan McDavid. “We’re happy with where we’re at right now, but we still have a lot of room for improvement.”

Green is now 5-0 on the season and 2-0 in the Southern Ohio Conference.

T.J. McCloud pitched a five-hitter as he struck out five and walked three to get the win.

Rob Applegate was 2-2, Matt Ratcliff 2-3 and Tyler Hughes and Colton Brammer each went 2-4 as Green pounded out 12 hits.

Hughes jumped started the Bobcats’ offense as he led off the bottom of the first inning with a home run. They added a run later in the inning on hits by Applegate and Ratcliff and an error.

Green blew the game open with six runs in the fourth inning.

Hughes singled and stole second base with one out. Matt Ratcliff singled home Hughes and Stephen Ratcliff reached on an error.

Steven Ratcliff stole second and Keith Stepp had a two-run single. Brammer and Adam Riffitt reached on errors and Cody Bruce had a two-run single.

The Vikings (1-4, 1-2) got their only run in the top of the fifth on a double by Cody Myers, a walked to Nathan Dockery and a throwing error.

But the Bobcats scored three times in the bottom of the inning to end the game.

Applegate was hit by a pitch, McCloud singled, Matt Ratcliff walked and Stephen Ratcliff had a two-run single. Brammer then had a walk-off single to drive in the clinching run.

“We played well against a good ball club,” said McDavid. “Symmes Valley is well-coached. It’s always a tough game when we go up against them.”

Green hosts Eastern Friday while the Vikings host Fairland Thursday.

Symmes Valley 000 01 = 1 5 4

Green 200 63 = 11 12 1

Nathan Dockery, Mitch Corn (4) and Jacob Patterson. T.J. McCloud and Matt Ratcliff. W-McCloud (K-5, BB-3). L-Dockery (K-4, BB-1, ER-4). 2B-Symmes Valley: Cody Myers. HR-Green: Tyler Hughes. Hitting- Green: Tyler Hughes 2-4 rbi, Rob Applegate 2-2, Matt Ratcliff 2-3 2-rbi, Colton Brammer 2-4 rbi, Cody Bruce 1-2 rbi.