Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

AID — A tip of the cap to the defense.

Big defensive plays were the difference as the Symmes Valley Lady Vikings rallied to edge the Portsmouth Notre Dame Lady Titans 2-1 on Friday in a Southern Ohio Conference game.

“The defense did exceptionally well,” said Lady Vikings’ coach Jeff “Odie” Estep. “Sierra Ross and Hannah Mays made great catches. Those two plays could have broke us, but they made the plays and we held our composure.”

Estep was talking about a diving catch by Ross in the third inning with runners at first and second and Mays’ running catch into the outfield fence with two outs and runners and first and second in the fifth.

Notre Dame took a 1-0 lead in the second inning.

Megha Patel singled, Brianna Tolbert reached on an error, Caitlyn Balls singled and an outfield error allowed the run to score.

The Lady Vikings tied the game in the sixth when Taylor Webb, Tiara Hatfield and Autumn Keathley all singled and Mays walked to force in the run.

Symmes Valley got the winning run in the bottom of the seventh.

Pinch-hitter Hannah Newcomb and Stephanie Brown singled to start the rally. Webb hit a liner that went off the second baseman’s foot for an error that allowed pinch-runner Kassandra Baldwin to score.

Brown got the win as she struck out six and walked two. Maggie Whitman took the loss as she fanned four and walked one.

Webb went 3-for-4 with a double to lead the Lady Vikings’ offense.

Brooke Pierron and Patel were 2-3 for Notre Dame.

Symmes Valley visits Portsmouth Notre Dame on Monday.

Notre Dame 010 000 0 = 1 6 2

Sym. Valley 000 001 1 = 1 8 2

Maggie Whitman and Brooke Pierron. Stephanie Brown and Tiara Hatfield. W-Brown (K-6, BB-2). L-Whitman (K-4, BB-1). Hitting—PND: Brooke Pierron 2-3, Megha Patel 2-3, MaKayla Hadsell 1-3, Caitlyn Ball 1-3; SV: Taylor Webb 3-4 2B rbi, Stephanie Brown 1-4, Tiara Hatfield 1-3, Autumn Keathley 1-3, Caitlin Carpenter 1-3, Hannah Newcomb 1-1.