AID — The record says the Symmes Valley Lady Vikings lost two of their three games this weekend during the 26th Valley of Thunder Softball Showcase. But when sizing up the competition for the Division 7 Lady Vikings who were playing much larger teams, Symmes Valley found some wins that don’t show up in the standings. The Hilliard Bradley Lady Jaguars took a 5-2 lead early and went on to get a 6-3 win. Bradley scored four in the first inning on singles by Mickey Moody and Lain

AID — The Wheelersburg Lady Pirates late rally came up just short as they fell to the Hilliard Bradley Lady Jaguars 3-2 at the Valley of Thunder Softball Showcase on Saturday afternoon. The Lady Jaguars were first to get on the scoreboard in the second inning. Sophia Lopez led off with a solo shot over the left field fence. Later, Sammie Moody had a bunt single to score a run and give Bradley a 2-0 lead. Wheelersburg had a chance to potentially take the lead in the top of the

AID — It's called a showcase for a reason. The Symmes Valley Lady Vikings took on one of the top teams appearing in the Valley of Thunder Softball Showcase on Friday evening and showcased their strengths in a tough battle. But ultimately, the Lady Vikings fell to Division 4 powerhouse Kenton Ridge Lady Cougars 6-2 on the opening day of the softball showcase. Despite it being their first loss of the season, Lady Vikings’ coach Jeff “Odie” Estep felt the team rose to the occasi

RACINE — When you get his and they make errors, it all adds up to a lopsided win. The Green Bobcats used 12 hits and six Southern errors to rout the Tornadoes 17-0 in a five-inning run rule win on Friday. Green (5-0) also got strong pitching from Kase McIntyre and Gabe Blevins who combined on a three-hitter. McIntyre got the win as he went the first three innings giving up the three hits with a strikeout and two walks. Blevins struck out four and did not walk a batter in his

FLATWOODS, Ky. — It was bounce back time for the South Point Lady Pointers. After a tough loss on Thursday, the Lady Pointers bounced back on Friday with a 9-4 win over the Russell Lady Devils. Kota Copley pitched a seven-hitter as she struck out 10 and walked six for the win. Copley also went 3-5 at the plate. Russell took the lead in the bottom of the first with a one out single by Hadley Cook to score Bella Hall. Nora Ladd followed up with sacrifice fly into right field an

PROCTORVILLE — Not many runs and not many hits, but it was one big win for the Fairland Dragons. In a game that had only six hits, Fairland got its first win of the season by beating the Wayne Pioneers 4-1 in a non-league game on Friday. Josh Gillespie and Noah Fleming combined on a three-hitter for the Dragons. Gillespie went five innings for the win as he gave up all three hits, one unearned run with five strikeouts and no walks. Fleming recorded the save as he went two inn

WHEELERSBURG — Pitching made a “Hughes” difference for the Ironton Fighting Tigers. Jacob Hughes pitched a two-hitter as Ironton blanked the Wheelersburg Pirates 2-0 in a non-league game on Thursday. Hughes struck out nine, did not issue a walk and used just 87 pitches as he got the complete game win along with the help of some good base running and clutch hitting. “He’s just a bulldog,” said Ironton coach John Hunt. “He just goes out there and he just keeps on playing and he

PROCTORVILLE — Ava Bihl wasn’t perfect. But she came close. The Ironton junior pitcher fired a five-inning no-hitter with only a pair of walks preventing her from getting a perfect game as the Lady Fighting Tigers blanked the Fairland Lady Dragons 10-0 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Thursday. Bihl struck out 14 of the 15 outs to get the win. She also went 1-3 at the plate with a run batted in. Ironton (3-2, 1-0) banged out 10 hits with seven different players connecting

AID — In a battle between two of the area’s premier pitchers, it was a third baseman who made the difference. Symmes Valley Lady Vikings’ Brenna Tibbs pitched a one-hitter in a 7-0 win over the South Point Lady Pointers. While Tibbs was locked up against the Lady Pointers’ Kota Copley, Lady Vikings’ third baseman Marley Ferguson went 2-2 with a home run and double and drove in three runs. “We beat a good team and a good pitcher,” said Lady Vikings’ coach Jeff “Odie” Estep. “T

SOUTH WEBSTER — The “K” in the name Knapp is silent. But the Green Bobcats think they know what it means. Strikeout. Jon Knapp had 14 “Ks” or strikeouts on Wednesday as he fired a one-hitter and Green blanked the South Webster Jeeps 4-0 in a Southern Ohio Conference divisional crossover game. The Jeeps (2-1) only hit of the game was a leadoff single by Hunter Barnard in the third. Green (4-0) got the scoring going in the first inning and took a 2-0 lead. Mason Neal and Riddic

PORTSMOUTH — It was a tough game which meant it was a tough loss. In a key Southern Ohio Conference 1 game, the Portsmouth Clay Panthers managed to come away with a 3-1 win over the St. Joseph Flyers on Wednesday. “That’s a game we could have gone either way. There were a few little things we didn’t do that helped them win,” said Flyers’ coach Nick Medinger. “Willis battled and pitched pretty well. Their kid pitched well. It was a very competitive game.” Evan Rider got the co

AID — This was one of those days when everything was working. The Symmes Valley Lady Vikings put together a total team effort with all facets working as they blanked the Coal Grove Lady Hornets 15-0 in a run rule 5-inning non-league game on Tuesday. “Our girls played a great game against a good Coal Grove team,” said Lady Vikings’ coach Jeff “Odie” Estep. “We got great pitching against some really good hitters and then our girls hit the ball well throughout our lineup.” Brenn

OLIVE HILL — Both Grayson Kiser and Griffin Fisher combined for 8 runs batted in and Lokelio Ancheta tossed a two-hit shutout to help the Russell Red Devils roll past the West Carter Comets 17-0 in 3 inning mercy rule on Tuesday evening. The Red Devils wasted little putting a dent in the scoreboard, as they erupted with 9 runs in the opening frame. Ancheta singled to score a run, Dawson Wada scored on an error to make it 2-0. Then Fisher singled with one out to score two runs

CROWN CITY — The St. Joseph Flyers “had their Wag on.” Not swag, but their Wag as in Waginger. Beckham Waginger went 4-4 with a pair of runs batted in and brother Barrett Waginger gave up just one hit and pitched four scoreless innings in his first career start as the Flyers blanked the South Gallia Rebels 12-0 in a five-inning run rule on Tuesday. “Beckham and Barrett had big games for us. They have a lot of ability,” said Flyers’ coach Nick Medinger. “But this was a good te

FRANKLIN FURNACE — Maybe Brennan Renison and Uriah Satterfield are thinking of forming a WWE tag team, The two pitchers tag teamed a four-hitter as the Green Bobcats blanked the Eastern Eagles 10-0 in a six inning run rule win on Tuesday. Renison went four innings for the win as he gave up only one hit, struck out seven and walked two. Satterfield gave up three hits and walked one batter. Green (3-0) smacked 11 hits with Jon Knapp going 2-4 with two doubles and two runs batte

HUNTINGTON, W.Va . — The South Point Lady Pointers are making a little more noise each time they play. After a 14-4 win over Raceland on Monday, the Lady Pointers came back with a 10-2 win over the Huntington Lady Highlanders on Tuesday as they improved to 5-1 on the season. Kota Copley pitched a two-hitter, struck out 10 and walked three as she got the five inning complete game win. The Lady Pointers pounded out 12 hits led by Kaylee Stidham who was 2-3 with a home run and t

SOUTH POINT — Pete Rose called Tony Perez “The Big Dog” or “Doggie” because he was clutch with runners in scoring position. The St. Joseph Flyers may have their own “Big Dog” as Beckham Waginger proved to be clutch in an 8-4 season opening win over the South Point Pointers on Monday. “We only had five hits but we hit the ball hard right at them all day,” said Flyers’ coach Nick Medinger. “Beckham had three of the hits and he was clutch. He drove in half our runs.” Waginger wa

PROCTORVILLE — Country singer Crystal Gayle once sang, “Don’t Take Me Half the Way.” The Fairland Dragons led halfway through the game only to have the Russell Red Devils rally for a 9-2 win on Monday. Fairland (0-3) took a 2-0 lead in the first inning and Dragons stayed ahead until the fourth inning when Russell scored three runs to take the lead for good. Russell (5-2) erupted for five runs in the fifth inning and added an insurance run in the sixth. Hayden McGowan doubled

HUNTINGTON, W.Va . — The game was going back and forth until it didn’t come back for the Fairland Lady Dragons. In a game that saw the lead change hands four times, the Lady Dragons lost 14-6 to the Huntington Lady Highlanders on Monday. Huntington (2-5) took a 2-0 lead in the first inning, but Fairland went ahead 3-2 lead in the top of the third when Taegan Leep slugged a home run after Maddie Cornwell singled and Aubree Cyrus walked. Huntington rallied in the bottom of the

IRONTON — When opportunity knocks, at least look out the peep hole. Ironton had its opportunities but the Fighting Tigers were unable to capitalize in a 5-1 season opening loss to the West Jefferson Roughriders on Sunday. “We just did not adjust to the game as it was being played,” said Ironton coach John Hunt. “We had plenty of chances, but we watched too many called third strikes in crucial situations.” The Roughriders (1-0) took a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Blake Bogenr