AID – The Symmes Valley Vikings were playing the St.

Tuesday, May 09, 2000

AID – The Symmes Valley Vikings were playing the St. Joe Flyers, so it was time for another late rally.

After rallying from a four-run deficit to win 12-11 in the bottom of the seventh in the first game of the season, the Vikings scored three times in the sixth to beat the Flyers 8-5 Monday in the Division IV sectional tournament finals.

The Vikings (14-2) now play Portsmouth Clay Saturday at the University of Rio Grande in the district semifinals. The other game has Reedsville Eastern meeting Fairfield.

The hitting of Adam Corn and Noah Henson helped key the comeback rally and they were pivotal in the early rally that erased a 3-0 St. Joe lead.

Corn started on the mound and went the first three innings. He struck out six and did not walk a batter. Justin Myers finished for the win, striking out eight and walking one.

"Adam Corn and Justin Myers did an excellent job on the mound for us. Justin’s been the workhorse, but Adam has helped tremendously," Vikings coach Rusty Webb said.

"Corn and Noah Henson both had great days at the plate, but we still have to improve our defense."

St. Joe took a 3-0 lead in the second.

Eric Waginger hit a solo home run to start the inning. Pat McGinnis then singled and Andy Stack doubled him home. Stack scored when the throw home got away.

The Vikings rallied to tie the game in the third.

Anthony Owens hit a solo home run, Myers walked, and Henson hit a two-run homer.

Symmes Valley took the lead in the fourth when Jeff Ralph singled, Owens walked, and, after a wild pitch, Myers hit a sacrifice fly.

The lead went to 5-3 in the fifth. Corn led off with a base hit, Jeremy Copley was safe on an outfield error, and Jeremy Simpson reached on an error as Corn scored.

St. Joe rallied to tie the game in the top of the sixth.

Andy Stack singled, Danny Stack was safe on an error, Andy Heighton walked to load the bases, Bub Waginger singled home a run, and Matt Frazer was hit by a pitch as the second run scored.

Symmes Valley then rallied in the bottom of the inning for three runs.

Myers walked and Joseph Patterson went in to run. Henson and Corn singled to load the bases with Michael Roth becoming a pinch-runner for Corn.

Eric Holland then squeezed home Patterson for the go-ahead run. After a force out at home, Billy McCarty was hit by a pitch as a run scored, and Simpson walked to score the final run.

Bub Waginger, who took the loss for the Flyers, went 2-3 and Andy Stack 2-4.

St. Joe 030 002 0 – 5 8 3

Sym. Valley 003 113 x – 8 9 4

Bub Waginger and Pat McGinnis. Adam Corn, Justin Myers (4) and Anthony Owens. W-Myers (8-K, 1-W). L-Waginger (3-K, 8-W). 2B-St. Joe: Bub Waginger, Andy Stack; Symmes Valley: Jeremy Simpson. HR-St. Joe: Eric Waginger; Symmes Valley: Anthony Owens, Anthony Owens. Hitting-St. Joe: Pat McGinnis 3-4, Bub Waginger 2-3, Andy Stack 2-4, Eric Waginger 1-4; Symmes Valley: Noah Henson 2-4, Adam Corn 2-3, Jeremy Simpson 1-3, Jeff Ralph 1-3, Anthony Owens 1-3, Eric Holland 1-2, Jeremy Copley 1-4.