Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

AID — If pitching and defense wins games, that’s why the Symmes Valley Lady Vikings went 3-0 in their annual Valley of Thunder softball extravaganza this past weekend.
The Lady Vikings beat Pickerington North 3-2, Waterford 7-1 and Wahama, W.Va., 9-7.
In the 3-2 win over Pickerington North, the Lady Vikings got good pitching from Sarah Kingery and their best defensive effort of the season.
“We played one whale of a defensive game. Morgan Jenkins had two diving catches and went in the hole at shortstop for a play, Payton Hunter at third base played well and Taylor Webb made three diving catches in the outfield,” said Lady Vikings’ coach Jeff “Odie” Estep.
Pickerington got two runs in the top of the first but Webb hit a solo home run in the bottom of the inning to put the Lady Vikings up 1-0 in the first inning.
The Lady Vikings got two runs in the fifth to take the lead.
Sarah Kingery doubled, Morgan Jenkins singled and Webb was walked intentionally. Kara Saunders hit into a force play for an RBI. Ericca Ross was safe on an error to score the second run.
In the second game, the Lady Vikings scored three runs in the first inning.
Kingery doubled, Jenkins reached on an error, and after a wild pitch Webb hit into a fielder’s choice for a run. Saunders was safe on an error for a run and Rachael Hayes had an RBI triple.
Waterford got a run in the top of the fourth but the Lady Vikings scored four in the bottom of the inning.
Kelsey Gothard reached on error, Emily Sharp and Kingery singled to load the bases. Jenkins singled home two runs and Webb hit into a fielder’s choice for an RBI. Saunders double for a run.
In the third game, the Lady Vikings built a 7-3 lead early and held on for the win.
The Lady Vikings got a run in the first inning when Webb doubled, stole third and came home on a ground out by Saunders.
The lead went to 4-0 in the second inning.
Ross single, Hayes hit into a force play, Estep reached on an error, Emily Sharp walked and Kingery had a three-run double.
In the third, Webb singled and Saunders hit a two-run homer.
With one out, Hayes singled, Estep walked and two passed balls and then Hailee Littlejohn hit a sacrifice fly.
Symmes Valley added a run in the fourth when Kingery walked, moved to third on two passed balls and scored on a hit by Webb.
Wahama got three runs in the fifth to make it 8-6 but Symmes Valley got an insurance run in the sixth.
Webb singled and went to third on an outfield error. She scored on a passed ball.
The Lady Vikings visit Rock Hill on Tuesday.
First Game
Pickerington 200 000 0 = 2 10 3
Sym. Valley 100 020 x = 3 5 1
Schultz and Moyer. Sarah Kingery and Ericca Ross. W-Kingery (K-0, BB-0). Schultz (K-3, BB-2). Hitting-PN: Auten 3-4, Moller 2-4, Jensen 2-4, Madison 2-3, Dean 1-4, Moebbrecht 1-3; SV: Sarah Kingery 1-3 2B, Morgan Jenkins 1-3, Taylor Webb 1-1 HR, Kara Saunders 1-3, Rachael Hayes 1-3.
Second Game
Waterford 000 100 0 = 1 6 5
Sym. Valley 300 400 x = 7 7 2
Smittey and Young. Kara Saunders and Ericca Ross. W-Saunders (K-4, BB-0). L-Smittey (K-1, BB-2). Hitting-WHS: Taylor 1-4, Neader 1-3, Young 1-3, Offenberger 1-3, Smittey 1-3, Jones 1-3 2B; SV: Sarah Kingery 2-4 2B, Morgan Jenkins 1-4, Kara Saunders 1-4, Rachael Hayes 1-3, Emily Sharp 2-3.
Third Game
Wahama 003 030 1 = 7 10 4
Sym. Valley 133 101 x = 9 11 3
Emma Gibbs and Madelyne VanMatre. Sarah Kingery and Ericca Ross. W-Kingery (K-2, BB-1). L-Gibbs (K-2, BB-4). Hitting-WHS: Hannah Rose 2-4, Madelyne VanMatre 2-4, Emily VanMatre 3-4, Emma Gibbs 1-4, Autumn Baker 1-4; SV: Webb 4-4 2B, Sarah Kingery 3-3 2-2B, Kara Saunders 2-3, Ericca Ross 1-3, Rachael Hayes 1-4.