Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

FRANKLIN FURNACE — Winning the Southern Ohio Conference takes 12 tough steps.
Step one goes to the Green Bobcats.
Green began SOC play on Wednesday with some strong pitching and timely hitting in a 9-1 win over the Symmes Valley Vikings.
“It was a good way to start off league play,” said Green coach Dan McDavid.
Tanner Kimbler fired a one-hitter as he struck out 14 and walked just one in going the distance.
Green (3-1, 1-0) had eight hits with Tayte Carver and Kimbler each going 2-4.
“We got six walks and they had three errors, but we hit the ball pretty well when we needed,” said McDavid.
“We made three errors but we made some good plays. Tanner Kimbler threw a nice game. He threw a complete game on 98 pitches and he struck out 14.”
Green got a run in the first inning when Kimbler had an infield hit, stole second, took third on a wild pitch and on a missed third strike and the catcher had to throw to first base and that allowed Kimbler to score.
Tyler Darnell single, stole second and Tayte Carver singled. Trevor Carver walked and Drew Ramey had a two-out RBI single.
The lead went to 4-0 in the fourth with two outs as Darnell walked, stole second, took third on a wild pitch and came home on another missed third strike play.
The Vikings (3-2, 0-1) got a run in the top of the fifth. Forest Humphrey reached on an error and scored when Austin Mannon’s fly ball was dropped.
Green came back with a run in its half of the inning when Derek Brown walked, Ramey was safe on an error and both runners scored on Rylie Maynard’s double.
The Bobcats got two runs in the sixth.
Tayte Carver singled to start the rally, Hayden Whitis hit into a fielder’s choice as both runners were safe. Chase Clark then delivered a two-run single to cap the scoring.
Nick Klaiber singled for the Vikings’ lone hit.
The two teams meet again Friday at Symmes Valley. The Vikings visits Fairland on Thursday.
Sym. Valley    000    010    0    =    1    1    3
Green       102    112    x    =    9    8    3
Chayden Renfroe, Laykin Gothard (5) and Derek Brace. Tanner Kimbler to Trevor Carver. W-Kimbler (K-14, BB-1). L-Renfroe (IP-4.1, K-8, BB-6). Gothard IP-1.2, K-2, BB-0).  Hitting-SV: Nick Klaiber 1-2; Green: Tanner Kimbler 2-4, Tyler Darnell 1-3, Tayte Carver 2-4, Drew Ramey 1-2, Chase Clark 1-1 2-RBI, Rylie Maynard 1-3 2B 2-RBI.