Baseball can be a simple game if players execute.

It can be a nightmare if they do not.

Valley executed better than Greensburg Salem on Thursday and walked away with a six-inning, 18-6 victory in Section 3-4A action.

The Vikings (3-1, 7-2) took advantage of six errors and a combined six walks/hit batters and complemented that with an 18-hit attack.

Nikolas Heakins (a double and two triples), Dominick Dunkle (a single, double and home run) and Jaron Minford (triple) each drove in three runs for the Vikings.

Greensburg Salem (0-4, 1-5) could not keep up with the visitors from New Kensington, even though it had opportunities.

But the Golden Lions ended up stranding 12 runners. They received nine freebies from Valley pitchers Julian Danko and Brady Moore but could not get the big hit.

“Julian has been throwing strikes this season, but today he was not,” Valley coach Jaron Minford said. “Brady came in and settled things down, and our offense played well. We have been hitting well all season.”

Valley scored two runs in the first inning on a two-run hit by Dante Taliani. Greensburg Salem cut the lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the first on a sacrifice fly by Brody Chismar.

But Valley responded with three runs in the top of the second inning on a two-run triple by Heakins and an RBI hit by Dunkle.

Chismar added his second RBI of the game in the bottom of the second inning when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to make it 5-2.

“We kept battling back but never could catch them,” Greensburg Salem coach Anthony Manley said. “It was the same way Wednesday; we kept chipping away. We just kept giving them too many opportunities.”

Valley added two more in the third inning on consecutive hits by Alex Vagnier, Dimitri Taliani and Heakins.

Dunkle opened the fifth inning with a solo home run.

The Vikings had seven extra-base hits including four triples.

“Our bats helped a lot,” coach Minford said. “These kids are having a lot fun. They have each other’s back.

“They are playing for each other. If we continue to hit the ball like this, we will be OK.”

Brady Gillott had two doubles for the Golden Lions. He allowed 10 runs, but only two were earned.

“I can deal with physical mistakes,” Manley said. “We must become stronger mentally.

“Valley is a good hitting team. We just gave them too many chances.”

Up next for Valley is a two-game series Monday and Tuesday against first-place Knoch.

Greensburg Salem has a pair Monday and Tuesday against first-place Indiana.