PREP SOFTBALL Gehring powers Ridge

Kaili Gehring pitched and batted Mineral Ridge to a 3-0 win in an ICL game.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
MINERAL RIDGE -- Asked whether she prefers to pitch a shutout or knock in the winning run, Mineral Ridge High junior Kaili Gehring didn't hesitate.
"I like them both," the left-hander said with a smile.
In Thursday's Inter-County League game against Jackson-Milton, Gehring (3-0) took charge on both ends. She struck out 10 batters and tossed a four-hitter in the Rams' 3-0 victory.
With two outs in the third inning, Gehring sent Jackson-Milton freshman pitcher Krista Kiraly's 1-1 pitch back up the middle to score Katie Garland for a 1-0 lead.
"Our pitching was really on," Mineral Ridge (3-0, 2-0 ICL) coach Bill Croft said. "Our defense was good, but we were a little weak at the plate. We had chances to score."
Gehring is factor
The difference was Gehring.
"Kaili had a couple of spots where she threw three, four balls in a row, but then came back and got strikeouts," Croft said. "She's very competitive -- she doesn't get rattled. She stays in control."
Gehring's toughest challenge came in the top of the third inning after Audrey Robinson hit a two-out triple.
Bluejays junior catcher Kay Bruss settled in for a 13-pitch at-bat, fouling off seven two-strike pitches before being called out on strike three.
"That was one of those pitching-batting duels that are just a lot of fun," Gehring said. "I was throwing different pitches trying to get her and she kept fouling them off. She's a good hitter."
Good defense
Two superb fielding plays by Bluejays freshman third baseman Carrie Fiol kept the game tight.
In the fourth inning, the Rams had runners at third and second base with one out. Bre Ann Amerzo hit a smash to Fiol, who looked Sarah Stark back to third then threw out the batter. A groundout ended the threat.
The Bluejays (4-2, 1-1) almost escaped another jam in the sixth inning after Katie Olive walked and Stark singled. After Jami Goodman's sacrifice bunt advanced the runners, Emily Sheller lined out to Fiol who made a low grab.
Amerzo followed with a double that knocked in two insurance runs.
Young players
"I thought we played well," said Jackson-Milton coach Kelly Snowden, who started three freshmen. "We're a young team and I think the next time we play it will be a different story. We're a good hitting team."
Kiraly gave up five hits and struck out four.
"She was not as fast as some of the pitchers we've seen and she gave us problems," Croft said. "You can have as much trouble with a slower pitcher as a fast pitcher.
"We were swinging ahead of the ball and we did not go to the plate focused," Croft said.
Gehring said senior leadership from "four incredible seniors" -- Olive, Stark, Amerzo and Robin Zimmerman -- should keep the Rams in ICL contention.
williams@vindy.com