Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PORTSMOUTH — Looks don’t matter. It’s all about results.

Symmes Valley pitchers didn’t bring their A-game, but the Vikings still came away with a 7-2 win over the Portsmouth Clay Panthers on Monday to clinch a share of the Southern Ohio Conference title.

Viking pitchers combined to walk seven and hit three more, but they limited Clay to just two hits as Symmes Valley improved to 14-1 overall and 10-1 in the league.

“It wasn’t pretty, but it was there,” said Vikings’ coach Chad Renfroe whose team had nine hits and took advantage of six walks themselves.

“We showed good patience at the plate and got some good hits.”

The Vikings snapped a scoreless tie with four runs in the third inning.

Laykin Gothard walked, stole second, Payton Hayes singled and Gothard scored on an error.

Dillon McFann singled in Hayes, Tanner Mays walked and Jacob Klaiber had a two-run single.

Clay got its two runs in the fourth on a hit batsman, two walks, a fielder’s choice and a ground out after a balk.

The Vikings got the two runs back in the fifth.

Hayes was safe on an error, McFann reached on a fielder’s choice and Mays walked. Cameron Meadows then doubled home the two runners.

The finale run scored a run in the seventh.

Meadows singled, moved up on a passed ball, Trent Thompson singled and Tylor Carpenter hit into a fielder’s choice as the run scored.

Clay (13-6, 11-3) came into the game needing a win to earn at least a share of the title.

Meadows was 2-for-3 for the Vikings while Hayes, McFann and Klaiber were all 2-4.

The Vikings visit Chesapeake on Tuesday.

Sym. Valley 004 020 1 = 7 9 1

Ports. Clay 000 200 0 = 2 2 2

Trent Thompson, Dillon McFann (4) and Cameron Meadows. Brody Riffe, Conner Phipps (6) and Wyatt Large. W-McFann (IP-3.2, H-2, K-5, BB-4). Thompson (IP-3.3, K-5,BB-3, HBP-3, R-2). L-Riffe (IP-5.2, R-6, ER-0, K-4, BB-5, H-6). Phipps (IP-1.1, K-1, BB-1, H-3, R-1). Hitting— SV; Payton Hayes 2-4, Dillon McFann 2-4, Jacob Klaiber 2-4, Cameron Meadows 2-3 2B, Trent Thompson 1-3; PC: Conner Phipps 1-2, Keith Cottle 1-3.