By JIM WALKER

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PT. PLEASANT, W.Va.  — It was a tough start against tough teams.

The Symmes Valley Lady Vikings opened the softball season on Saturday against a pair of talented larger schools and split a pair of tough decisions.

The Lady Vikings had 17 hits in the first game and beat the Pt. Pleasant Lady Knights 14-11 but were edged 5-4 in the second game against the Independence Lady Patriots.

“We played two good ball clubs and got our feet wet and got us going,” said Lady Vikings’ coach Jeff “Odie” Estep.

In the first game, Savannah Mart had a 2-run double and Natalie Simpson got her first career hit as she smacked a 3-run homer as the Lady Vikings took a 6-0 first inning lead.

The Lady Knights got 3 runs in the second but the Lady Vikings got a run in the third when Marlee Ferguson doubled, moved up on a ground out and scored on Kaycee Thompson’s single.

Pt. Pleasant got the run back in the bottom of the inning only to have the Lady Vikings score 3 runs in the fourth keyed by Addi Ridenour’s RBI double and it was 10-4.

The Lady Knights scored 4 runs in the bottom of the inning to get within 10-7 but Autumn Justice doubled for an RBI to trigger a 2-run sixth inning and it was 12-7

Symmes Valley got 2 more runs in the sixth and Pt. Pleasant scored 3 in the bottom of the seventh.

Mart was 3-5 with 2 doubles and 3 runs batted in, Ferguson 3-5 with 2 doubles and an Rbi, Thompson 3-4 with 2 RBI, Emma Ridenour 2-5, Desiree Simpson 2-4, Addi Ridenout 2-4 with a double and 2 RBI, Autumn Justice 2-2 with a double and Natalie Simpson 1-4 with the 3-run homer.

In the second game, Brenna Tibbs pitched a 5-hitter and struck out 10 but took the loss as the Lady Vikings couldn’t get key hits.

The Lady Vikings went up 2-0 in the first when Emma Ridenour singled, Desiree Simpson walked, a fielder’s choice and Marlee Ferguson had a 2-run single.

Independence got 2 runs in the third, 2 in the fifth and one in the sixth to take a 5-2 lead.

The Lady Vikings got a run in the bottom of the sixth when Ferguson doubled and Kaycee Thompson had an RBI single.

In the seventh, Desiree Simpson and Savannah Mart singled, moved up on a wild pitch and Ferguson singled a run.

The Lady Vikings left the bases loaded in both the sixth and seventh innings.

“We left the bases loaded several times. We loaded the bases in the seventh with no outs. We just couldn’t get that timely hit,” said Estep.

Emma Ridenour was 2-4, Ferguson 3-4 with a double and 3 Rbi, Desiree Simpson 1-3, Addy Hawk 1-2, Ally Haydon 1-1 and both Mart and Thompson 1-4.

Sym. Valley 601 322 0 = 14 17 3

Pt. Pleasant 031 400 3 = 11 19 3

Savannah Mart and Kaycee Thompson. Josie Shobe, Aubrey Supple (7) and Brynn Roush. W-Mart (IP-7.0, H-19, R-11, ER-6, K-4, BB-2). L-Shobe (IP-5.0, H-17, R-14, ER-9, K-6, BB-2). Supple (IP-2.0, H-0, R-0, ER-0, K-0, BB-0). Hitting-Symmes Valley: Savannah Mart 3-5 2-2B 3-RBI, Marley Ferguson 3-5 2-2B RBI, Kaycee Thompson 3-4 2-RBI, Emma Ridenour 2-5, Desiree Simpson 2-4, Addi Ridenour 2-4 2B 2-RBI, Autumn Justice 2-2 2B, Natalie Simpson 1-4 HR 3-RBI; Pt. Pleasant: Chloe Patrick 3-5 2-2B, Kaylee Byus 2-4, Josie Shobe 2-2 2B, Aubrey Supple 2-2, Victoria Musser 3-5, Callie Hall 2-4 2-2B, Kyla Queen 2-4, Rylann Macknight 2-4, Bryan Roush 1-1 2B.

—————

Independence 002 021 0 = 5 5 3

Symmes Valley 200 001 1 = 4 9 2

Payton Brehm and Ava Parks. Brenna Tibbs and Kaycee Thompson. W-Brehm (IP-7.0, R-4, ER-3, H-9, K-6, BB-5). L-Tibbs (IP-7.0, H-5, R-5, ER-3, K-10, BB-4). Hitting-Independence: Ava Parks 2-3, Alli Hypes 1-2, Emma Lilly 1-2, Kendra Spurlock 1-2; Symmes Valley: Emma Ridenour 2-4, Marlee Ferguson 3-4 2B 3-RBI, Savannah Mart 1-4, Desiree Simpson 1-3, Kaycee Thompson 1-4, Addy Hawk 1-2, Ally Haydon 1-1.