Season's First Week Shows Promise
Germantown, OH (April 2, 2005) Despite a combined 2-4 record the Valley View Spartans boys and girls baseball season opened with signs of great promise.
In softball action, the Lady Spartans squeezed a win in between two losses to start the season off with a 1-2 record. Opening the season at Franklin (the same place the ended the 2004 season), Valley View came back from a 7-2 deficit to just miss the win by one run. Kea Donson and Krista Smith had a pair of RBIs each.
In league action the Spartans decimated the Oakwood Lumber Jills, outscoring them 25+ runs in the first two innings alone. In a game that saw the Spartans bat around twice in both first innings, head coach Dona Layman had to be please with her teams offensive output. The Spartans could do no wrong and the Jills, with only two bench players, could do nothing right. It appears to be a long season ahead for the Oakwood team.
A five-run fourth inning was more than Valley View could overcome against the Lady Blue Devils, losing to Brookville 9-2 to close the week. The Spartans two lone runs came late in the game in a six-hit, three error effort. The Spartans head for the sunny south for spring break tournament action.
A rainout postponed the boys opener against Dixie and then field conditions forced Tuesday's game against West Carrollton to move to the Pirate's I-75 field, where the Spartans could only manage three hits, falling 3-0.
Damon Riegal picked up his first win of the season Wednesday against visiting Waynesville holding the Spartans to two runs, in a 9-2 win. Jon Tipton recorded his first save on the year. Kyle Dunaway had a two-bagger in the 10-hit Spartan effort that helped Valley View during a six run third inning.
Valley View closed out the week in a nail-biter at Oakwood, when the Lumber Jacks came from behind in the final inning, scoring two runs to down the Spartans 10-9. Chase Collins had a triple and 3 RBIs for Valley View. Damon Riegal (2 RBIs), Jason Pilkenton, and Michael Clark went 2-4 at the plate in the loss.
The Spartans head for Ocala, FL for a week of tournament action.
