Ridge uses Ault as armed weapon

MINERAL RIDGE -- When the Mineral Ridge High softball team steps on the diamond this spring, there's little doubt who is in command.
Her name is Ashley Ault.
So far, the Rams are 3-0 on the arm of Ault, who has picked up all three victories from the mound. Mineral Ridge's junior ace has pitched all 21 innings, and hasn't given up an earned run in any of her outings.
In three appearances, Ault has allowed 10 hits and three walks. She's beaten Jackson-Milton (2-0), Bristol (5-1) and Western Reserve (3-0).
Everyday pitcher: If coach Gene Cheredar had his choice, he'd throw Ault every day.
"She can pitch as much as she wants," Cheredar said. "Physically, if she's strong enough, she can pitch every day. We try to give her at least a day [of rest], anyway."
Ault's success, her coach said, comes from the progress she's made over the past two years. She's developed pitches to go along with her fastball, and worked diligently on her control.
"You can tell that she's gotten more confident," Cheredar said. "The control was the big part of it, and she's got a few more pitches."
Control largely has come from years of working with Bill Croft, a former Youngstown State softball coach, Ault said. He's been her pitching coach since the eighth grade.
Croft has taught Ault how to strengthen her arm and has been instrumental in developing her ability to change speeds and make her pitches move.
Started at an early age: Ault has been pitching since she was about nine years old. While attending a softball clinic, she was the only player who showed interest in taking the mound.
"I'm used to being the only pitcher, because its been that way ever since we were little," she joked.
Cool nerves, Ault said, is her strong suit.
"I always try to stay positive in the games, even when we are in tough situations," she said, recalling that she was in a bases-loaded jam last week against Western Reserve, but pitched out of it.
"I can stay cool in tough situations."
Last season, Ault pitched in 20 games, covering 131 innings. She gave up 113 hits and 35 earned runs, had 113 strikeouts and 23 walks.
All-league recognition: Those numbers earned her first team All-Inter-County League honors, which she aspires to this season. She also wants the Rams to repeat as ICL champions.
Mineral Ridge was 14-9 last season, including 12-2 in the ICL. Cheredar said he lost only two players from that team, which makes him confident for this year.
Ault isn't an overpowering pitcher. Inducing ground balls allows the Mineral Ridge defense to excel behind her.
"She gives up very few [walks] and places the ball exactly where she wants to," said assistant coach Dan Pringle.
"Basically, she keeps the ball down pretty low and makes [opponents] hit the ball into the ground," Cheredar said. "She's not what you'd call a dominating strikeout pitcher, but she probably gets her six or seven strikeouts per game."
K's: Actually, last year it was 5.65 strikeouts per game, good enough for an ERA of 1.87.
And, that's when she was only a sophomore.
"You can see, over the years, she's gotten stronger," her coach added. "She's got a good arm [for fielding], and her foot-speed is good, too."
When she's not pitching, which isn't often, Ault plays first base or outfield.
Ault's fastball tops out at about 56-57 mph, but Cheredar expects that will increase by the end of the season.
Because Mineral Ridge is thin in its pitching rotation, Ault will throw about 70 percent of the time, her coach said. Her backup is Brandy McLean, a sophomore.
XGeorge Welker covers high school sports for The Vindicator.