Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

AID — The Symmes Valley Vikings just can’t find their offense.
The Vikings played well and got some good pitching but lost 8-1 to the Portsmouth Notre Dame Titans in a Southern Ohio Conference game on Wednesday.
“We didn’t play bad defensively. We walked too many and we couldn’t get any timely hits. We didn’t strike out very much. If we get a couple of hits, we’re right in the game,” said Vikings’ coach Chad Renfroe.
Laykin Gothard gave up only six hits, struck out six and walked six.
Tyler Speas tossed a three-hitter for the Titans. He fanned seven, did not walk a batter and hit one.
The Titans got a run in the second when C.J. Corns singled, moved up on a passed ball and scored on a hit by Truman Hash.
The Titans went up 2-0 in the fourth. Grant Sparks singled, stole second and came home on a passed ball.
The lead went to 4-0 in the top of the fifth.
Speas singled, Sparks was hit by a pitch and Tyler Shaw had a two-run single.
The Vikings got its only run in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Evan Holmes was hit by a pitch, moved up on an error and scored when Chayden Renfroe grounded out.
But the Titans added two runs each in the sixth and seventh to pull away.
Sam Angelo, Derek Brace and Forest Humphrey had the Viking hits.
The Vikings visit Beaver Eastern on Friday.
Notre Dame    010    122    2    =    8    6    3
Sym. Valley    000    010    x    =    1    3    1
Tyler Speas and Sam Kayser. Laykin Gothard and Derek Brace. W-Speas (K-7, BB-0, HBP-3). L-Gothard (K-6, BB-6). Hitting-PND: Tyler Speas 1-3, C.J. Corns 1-4, Grant Sparks 1-3, Tyler Shaw 1-4, Truman Hash 2-3; SV: Sam Angelo 1-3, Derek Brace 1-3, Forest Humphrey 1-3.