By Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

AID — Clutch led to clinch.

By getting more timely performances, the Symmes Valley Lady Vikings toppled the Eastern Lady Eagles 11-1 on Monday to clinch at least a share of the Southern Ohio Conference 2 title.

“Good pitching and clutch hitting seem to be our M.O.,” said Lady Vikings’ head coach Jeff “Odie” Estep. “We’re playing pretty well and we just need to keep it up. Tibbs threw a really good game.”

Symmes Valley (20-1, 8-0) clinched at least a tie for the league title. On Wednesday, the Lady Vikings can win the title outright when they finish a game from earlier in the season plus the regularly scheduled league game.

Tibbs was dominant as she pitched a one-hitter and struck out 14 of the 15 outs. She didn’t walk a batter and the only run was unearned. During one stretch, Tibbs struck out 10 batters in a row.

Symmes Valley got a run in the first when Tibbs singled, stole second and third and came home on an errant pickoff throw.

The lead went to 2-0 in the second on a walk to Lindsey Freeman, a fly out and an error on a ball off the bat of Kaycee Thompson.

The Lady Vikings made it 3-0 in the third as Emma Ridenour singled, Alyssa Waugh was safe on an error, Marley Ferguson hit into a fielder’s choice and a throwing error scored the run.

Symmes Valley blew the game open with 7 runs in the fourth.

Natalie Simpson and Autumn Justice walked to start the inning. Thompson hit into a fielder’s choice and Addi Ridenour hit a 2-run double and Tibbs doubled home a run.

Waugh was safe on an error and Ferguson doubled home a pair of runs and Freeman followed with a 2-run homer to cap the rally.

With one out in the fifth, Addi Ridenour and Tibbs singled and Emma Ridenour doubled home the game-ending run.

Addi Ridenour went 3-3 and Tibbs 3-4 with a double to lead the Lady Vikings. Emma Ridenour was 2-4 with a double, Freeman was 1-2 with a home run, Ferguson 1-3 with a double and Simpson 1-2.

Aubrey Quillen was 1-2 for Eastern (10-6, 2-3).

Eastern  000 10 = 1 1 7

Sym. Valley 111 71 = 11 11 1

Leah Rader and Lynnleigh McCollister. Brenna Tibbs and Kaycee Thompson. W-Tibbs (IP-5.0, H-1, R-1, ER-0, K-14, BB-0). L-Radar (IP-4.1, H-11, R-11, ER-9, K-1, BB-2). Hitting-Eastern: Aubrey Quillen 1-2; Symmes Valley: Addi Ridenour 3-3, Brenna Tibbs 3-4 2B, Emma Ridenour 2-4 2B, Lindsey Freeman 1-2 HR, Marley Ferguson 1-3 2B, Kaycee Thompson RBI, Natalie Simpson 1-2.