Lady Vikings take care of business to claim district title

Players and coaches for the Symmes Valley Lady Vikings softball team pose with their 2025 district championship trophy and medals. (Photo by Kayla Niece)

RIO GRANDE — Does Symmes Valley Lady Vikings’ coach Jeff “Odie” Estep like listening to Bachman-Turner Overdrive.

Estep seemed to be quoting the song after the Lady Vikings routed the Eastern Lady Eagles 11-2 on Thursday to win the Division 7 district championship.

“We took care of business and did what we needed to do,” said Estep. “”We got the hits when we needed, Brenna pitched a great game and we just took care of business.”

Symmes Valley (26-2) will play the winner of Lancaster Fisher Catholic and Newark Catholic on Wednesday, May 28, at 5 p.m. at a site to be determined.

Brenna Tibbs went the distance to get the win as she allowed 7 hits, one earned run, struck out 11 and walked 2.

Offensively, the Lady Vikings had 13 hits with Tibbs going 3-5 with a double and 3 runs batted in, Marley Ferguson 3-4 with 3 RBI, Lindsey Freeman 1-3 with a double, and Emma Ridenour, Kaycee Thompson and Addi Ridenour all 2-4.

After a scoreless first inning, the Lady Vikings got 5 runs in the second.

Natalie Simpson walked to start the inning, Autumn Justice grounded out as Simpson went to second. Thompson singled and an outfield error allowed the run to score. Addi Ridenour reached on an error, Tibbs singled for an RBI, and Emma Ridenour was safe on an error to load the bases and Ferguson single to drive in all 3 runners.

The lead went to 9-0 in the third inning.

Justice was safe on an error, Thompson singled and Addi Ridenour was hit by a pitch. Tibbs doubled home 2 runs and Emma Ridenour singled home the other 2 runs.

Eastern (16-9) got its 2 runs in the fourth.

Emma Putnam walked, Ashlynn Thomas was safe on an error, Jaynna Wright singled for a run and a throwing error allowed the second run scored.

With one out, Emma Ridenour and Ferguson singled, moved up on a wild pitch and Freeman belted a 2-run double.

Eastern  000 200 0 = 2 7 5

Sym. Valley 054 020 x = 11 13 2

Jaynna Wright and Emma Putnam. Brenna Tibbs and Kaycee Thompson. W–Tibbs (IP-7.0, H-7, R-2, ER-0, K-11, BB-2). L–Wright (IP-6.0, H-14, R-11, ER-10, K-4, BB-3). Hitting–Eastern Meigs: Aedre Ault 2-4, Jaynna Wright 1-2, Abigail Newland 2-3, Emma Putnam 1-3; Symmes Valley: Brenna Tibbs 3-5 3-RBI, 2B, Marley Ferguson 3-4 3-RBI, Emma Ridenour 2-4, Kaycee Thompson 2-4, Addi Ridenour 2-4, Lindsey Freeman 1-3 2B. 2-RBI.