AID -- Same old Symmes Valley and Green game.

No matter how good the teams are or what's at stake, the Symmes Valley Vikings and Green Bobcats always lock up in classic battles.

Friday was no exception as the Vikings used a 9-run fourth inning to ignite a 12-7 win over the Bobcats in a Southern Ohio Conference game.

"That was a good win. Green has a nice team. This is always a tough game for both of us," Vikings coach John Patterson said.

Symmes Valley, 2-0 and 1-0, had 11 including home runs by Caleb Bland and Chad Higgins. Joseph Patterson went 3-4 to lead the attack while Bland was 2-3 and Kyle Gilmore 2-4.

But the Vikings offense wasn't the only thing that impressed coach Patterson.

"Kyle Gilmore did a great job out in left field. He made some amazing catches, and Chad Artrip had a diving catch that saved some runs," Patterson said. "Our infield was making plays the whole game. They did a good job."

Green, 1-3 and 1-1, had 10 hits with Adam Sparks going 2-2 with a home run, Jimmy Moore 3-3 and Ryan Bloomfield 2-4.

Green jumped out to a 3-0 lead when Moore and Castro singled and Sparks homered.

The Vikings got a run back in the second when Joseph Patterson and Bland singled to put runners on the corners, and a throwing error on a missed squeeze bunt attempt allowed Patterson to score.

Then came the 9-run fourth.

Patterson singled to start the inning and Burcham doubled him home. Bland and Higgins walked and Terry Elswick, Gilmore and Justin Holland followed with run-scoring singles.

Chad Atrip walked, Patterson had his second single of the inning, and an outfield error allowed two more runs to score.

Green got three runs back in the fifth to make it 10-6. Odie Kelley walked with one out, Moore singled, Sparks walked, and Klaiber and Ramey singled.

Symmes Valley answered with a run in the bottom of the inning when Artrip tripled and Bland homered.

The Bobcats refused to quit and got a run in the sixth. Bloomfield singled, Moore and Sparks walked, and Klaiber reached on a throwing error.

Burcham picked up the win with Joseph Patteson getting the save.

Green300031--7102

Sym. Valley01092x--12112

Ryan Bloomfield, Mark Castro (5) and Mark Castro, Jimmy Moore (5). Cory Burcham, Joseph Patterson (6) and Justin Holland. W-Burcham (3-K, 4-W). Save-Patterson (2-K, 2-W). L-Bloomfield. 2B-Green: Ryan Bloomfield; SV: Cory Burcham. 3B-SV: Chad Atrip. HR-Green: Adam Sparks; SV: Caleb Bland, Chad Higgins. Hitting-Green: Ryan Bloomfield 2-4, Jimmy Moore 3-3, Mark Castro 1-4, Adam Sparks 2-2, Ryan Klaiber 1-4, Brian Ramey 1-4; Symmes Valley: Kyle Gilmore 2-4, Chad Artrip 1-2, Joseph Patterson 3-4, Cory Burcham 1-4, Caleb Bland 2-3, Chad Higgins 1-1 (3-W), Justin Holland 1-3, Terry Elswick 1-3.