AID — South Gallia baseball’s best season in school history came to a quick halt Thursday night against host Symmes Valley during an 11-1, five-inning setback in a Division IV sectional final contest in Lawrence County.

The seventh-seeded Rebels (9-7) — just three days after winning their first-ever home playoff game — appeared to be headed in another positive direction against the second-seeded Vikings after posting a 1-0 lead a half-inning in, but SVHS countered with 11 consecutive runs through four frames to wrap up the mercy-rule decision.

The Vikings produced only one more hit (8) than the guests, but five of those eight safeties left the yard. Symmes Valley also had five different players hit each of those home runs, with three of those coming in the fourth inning. The Rebels also committed the only four errors in the contest.

SGHS took its only lead in the first as Zach Haislop led the way with a single, then stole both second and third to get into scoring position. Cory Haner delivered a bloop single, allowing Haislop to score for a 1-0 advantage.

That lead, however, would be short-lived as Tyler Easthom and Robbie Powell reached on errors. Both later scored on a Cody Bland single to make it a 2-1 game. Jeremy Hatfield followed with a two-run homer, making it a 4-1 contest.

The score stayed that way until the third, when an error and a walk allowed Luke Taylor and Ethan Wilson to reach safely, then Dustin Wilson uncorked a three-run blast for a 7-1 edge.

Powell and Bland hit back-to-back homers to lead off the fourth, and Ethan Wilson cranked a two-run blast to wrap up the 10-run outcome.

Haner and Heath White led South Gallia with two hits each, followed by Haislop, B.J. Stanley and Brandon Harrison with one safety apiece. Haislop started and lasted two innings, allowing four runs in the losing decison. Stanley worked two innings of relief and allowed seven runs. Both hurlers are the lone seniors on the squad.

Bland and Ethan Wilson led the hosts with two hits apiece. Powell was the winning pitcher of record, allowing only one walk over five innings while striking out six.

Symmes Valley 11,

South Gallia 1

S Gallia 100 00 — 1 7 4

S Valley 403 4x — 11 8 0

SOUTH GALLIA (9-7): Zach Haislop, B.J. Stanley and Cory Haner.

SYMMES VALLEY (n/a): Robbie Powell and Cody Bland.

WP — Powell; LP — Haislop.

HR: SV — Robbie Powell, Cody Bland, Jeremy Hatfield, Ethan Wilson, Dustin Wilson.