INTER-COUNTY LEAGUE SOFTBALL McLean keeps Rams in the hunt

Her two-run triple gave Mineral Ridge a 6-4 win over first-place Western Reserve.
By BOB ROTH
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
BERLIN CENTER -- Brandi McLean's triple into the right-field corner on a 1-2 pitch gave her Mineral Ridge softball team new life in the Inter-County League race.
McLean's hit chased home Kaili Gehring and Sarah Stark in the top of the ninth inning to break a 4-4 deadlock, and the Rams held on to defeat Western Reserve, 6-4.
"This was a big win for us because it keeps us alive in the league," Mineral Ridge coach Gene Cheredar said. "It was Kaili who was great today [pitching] as she overcame adversity and was strong as she could be at the end."
A win by Western Reserve would have clinched the league title for the Blue Devils (17-3, 11-2), but Mineral Ridge (16-3, 7-2 with five league games remaining) now is alive and well in a battle for the ICL top spot.
Seven runners stranded
Blue Devils' coach Joe Serensky noted that his team left seven runners stranded.
"As the game went on, both pitchers seem to get stronger and it seemed the game could go on all night," Serensky said. "But for us, this was a game of missed opportunities."
The game featured two of the league's best pitchers in Mineral Ridge sophomore lefty Gehring and Western Reserve senior right-handed pitcher, Mikah Berger.
Both were brilliant, with errors behind them causing consternation.
The Rams took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Gehring's chopper to shortstop brought Sylvia Dubic home.
Two errors by the Rams and a Kristen Kurth double gave Western Reserve a 3-1 lead.
Mineral Ridge came right back in the top of the third with a pair of runs, thanks to Tomisa Sangregorio's two-run triple into the right-field corner.
After an error put Andrea Martin on base and a Katie Harmon single moved her to third base, Deanna Zamudio's sacrifice fly brought her home with a third unearned run scored against Gehring for a 4-3 Blue Devils lead.
In the Mineral Ridge sixth inning, Katie Olive tripled to the fence in deep right field and Gehring got pinch runner Jami Goodman home to deadlock the game with her second RBI.
Stage set for McLean
In the ninth frame, Gehring singled and Sarah Stark laid down a bunt to the left side and beat it out to set the stage for McLean's offensive heroics.
"I got a pitch a little outside and hit it where it was," said McLean, who also made two good defensive plays.
Gehring (14-2) earned her second win over the Blue Devils as she bested Berger 7-3 on April 14.
Gehring had eight strikeouts and three walks as she allowed five hits and one earned run.