Pirates take advantage of miscues to beat Vikings

AID — Cooper Heimbach drove in three runs and Wheelersburg Pirates took advantage of some costly mistakes to pick up a 10-4 win over the Symmes Valley Vikings on Thursday in a non-league Southern Ohio Conference match up.

The win improves the Pirates record to 15-6 overall. The loss sets the Vikings back at 15-9 on the season.

The Pirates offense was paced by Heimbach's double and 3 RBIs. Jack Picklesimer, Brody Wilburn, Jake Clevenger, Drake Bundy, and Brady Music all had a hit and RBI for the Pirates.

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Symmes Valley was led offensively by Bronx Carpenter, going 2-for-3 at the plate and Tanner Thompson with a hit and 2-RBIs. Tanner Corn, Asher Maynard and Gradee Holland each had a hit for the Vikings.

Symmes Valley took the lead in the bottom of the opening frame, as Bronx Carpenter singled to lead off and stole second. Carpenter then reached third on a grounder and scored on a pass ball to give the Vikings a 1-0 lead.

A two out RBI-single from Brady Music tied the game up in the second inning.

Walks and errors plagued the Vikings in the third and Pirates took advantage of the costly mistakes. Doss drew a walk to lead off and later scored on an error. Heimbach notched his first RBI on a sacrifice fly to give the Pirates a 3-1 lead. Then Jack Picklesimer scored on a dropped third strike to make it 4-1.

In the fourth, the Pirates continued to add to their lead. Heimbach scored another run on a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 7-1.

Symmes Valley clawed back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth. Holland led off with a single and Carpenter followed with a base hit to put both runners on second and third. Thompson singled back up the middle to score both runs and cut the Pirates lead to 7-3.

But the Pirates would add three more in the sixth, as Heimbach doubled to score a run, Bundy singled in another and Cleavenger scored on an error.

The Vikings got one more run in the bottom of the inning to round out the final score.

Hankins took the loss for the Vikings. The senior went three innings, allowing just two earned runs on five hits and struck out three. Thompson, Carpenter and Andy Strow made appearances on the mound to finish out the game for the Vikings.

Doss earned the win for the Pirates with 4 and 1/3 innings of work, and allowing six hits, 2 earned runs and one strikeout. Howard and Heimbach closed out the final 2 and 2/3 innings in relief.

The Vikings host South Webster on Monday.

Wheelersburg 013 303 0 = 10 6 2

Sym. Valley 100 021 0 = 4 6 4

Brady Doss, Braxton Howard (5), Cooper Heimbach (6) and catcher. Braden Hankins, Tanner Thompson (4), Bronx Carpenter (4), Andy Strow (7) and Will Jones. W-Doss (IP-4.1, H-6, R-3, ER-2, K-1, BB-1 WP-1). Howard (IP-0.2, H-1, R-0, ER,-0, K-1, BB-1, WP-0). Heimbach (IP-2.0, H-0, R-0, ER-0 K-0, BB-0, WP-0). L-Hankins (IP-3.0, H-2, R-5, ER-2, K-3, BB-3, WP-1). Thompson (IP-0.1, H-0, R-2, ER-2, K-0, BB-3, WP-0). Carpenter (IP-2.2, H-3, R-3, ER-3, K-0, BB-4, WP-0). Strow (IP-1.0, H-1, R-0, ER-0, K-0, BB-1, WP-0). Hitting-Wheelersburg: Jack Picklesimer 1-4 RBI, Brody Wilburn 1-4 RBI, Cooper Heimbach 1-5 3-RBI 2B, Jake Clevenger 1-2 RBI, Drake Bundy 1-3 RBI, Brady Music 1-3 RBI; Symmes Valley: Bronx Carpenter 2-3, Tanner Thompson 1-4 2-RBI, Tanner Corn 1-4, Asher Maynard 1-3, Gradee Holland 1-2.