Late rally falls short as Vikings fall to Whiteoak

Symmes Valley's Will Jones makes contact. (Photo by Kayla Niece)

Symmes Valley's Gradee Holland goes towards home with a pitch. (Photo by Kayla Niece)

Symmes Valley's Tanner Corn waits a a throw to tag a runner out. (Photo by Kayla Niece)

Whiteoak's Zander Rhoades gets a base hit. (Photo by Kayla Niece)

CHILLICOTHE — It looked as though Symmes Valley was poised to pull off a seventh inning comeback, but the rally came up short as the Vikings fell to the Whiteoak Wildcats 10-5 on Wednesday evening at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Despite trailing 10-2 heading into the seventh, the Vikings (9-4) made one last effort — and for a while — it looked as though they might pull it off.

Bronx Carpenter was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, stole his way around to third, and finally scored on a passed ball. Tanner Thompson drew a walk and stole second, then Will Jones singled and reached second.

A balk by the pitcher advanced Thompson home and Jones to third with no out. Then Jones later would score to cut the deficit to five with no outs.

But Whiteoak made a switch on the mound, and Jonah Michael came on to retire three of the last four batters and help the Wildcats avoid the Vikings' comeback effort.

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Jones finished 2-for-3 at the plate, including an RBI double in the fourth to give the Vikings their first run of the game. Thompson went 1-3 with a double, Tanner Corn went 2-4, and Asher Maynard went 2-3. Andy Strow and Braden Hankins each had an RBI.

The Wildcats (6-3) were able to build up a big lead behind a 6-run rally in the third.

Michael singled twice in the inning, and Jacob Kelly, Abe Flader, Caden Butler and Zander Rhodes all recorded a hit.

When Rhoades' singled deep into left and scored Butler, the Wildcats had pushed their lead to 8-0 after three.

Gradee Holland took the loss for the Vikings. Carpenter came on in relief during the third and went the rest of the way. Jacen Applegate picked up the win for Whiteoak.

Sym. Valley 000 200 3 = 5 7 2

Whiteoak 206 020 x = 10 10 1

Gradee Holland, Bronx Carpenter (3) and Will Jones. Jacen Applegate, Jacob Kiley (7), Jonah Michael (7) and Christia Hite. W-Applegate (IP-6.0, H-6, R-2, ER-2, K-11, BB-1, WP-1). Kiley (IP-0.0, H-1, R-3, ER-3, K-0, BB-1, WP-0). Michael (IP-1.0, H-0, R-0, ER-0, K-0, BB-1, WP-0). L- Holland (IP-2.2, H-8, R-8, ER-6, K-3, BB-2, WP-0). Carpenter (IP-3.1, H-2, R-2, ER-0, K-0, BB-1, WP-0). Symmes Valley: Tanner Thompson 1-3 2B, Will Jones 2-3 RBI 2B, Andy Strow RBI, Tanner Corn 2-4, Braden Hankins RBI, Asher Maynard 2-3; Whiteoak: Zander Roades 2-4 RBI, Jonah Michael 3-3 2-RBI, Jacob Kiley 2-4, Abe Flader 1-4 RBI, Izayah Clift 1-3 2-RBI, Caden Butler 1-3 3-RBI.