DIV. IV SOFTBALL Gehring pitches Ridge to final

She tossed a two-hitter in a 5-0 win over East Canton.
By JOHN BASSETTI
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
CORTLAND -- Mineral Ridge High's Kaili Gehring has given up fewer hits and has had more strikeouts before, but she's still proud of Thursday's 5-0 victory over East Canton in a Division IV district semifinal.
Gehring allowed just two hits and struck out seven as the Rams (18-5) marched into today's district title game against Western Reserve at 4:30 p.m.
The teams split during the regular season -- the Rams won the first meeting by one run before losing to Western Reserve by six runs on May 5.
Goes again today
First-year coach Bill Croft expects to throw Gehring (15-3) today and he expects to see Katie Harmon when the Rams are batting.
"We just can't make any mistakes against Western Reserve," Croft said of Mineral Ridge's first district final appearance since 2001.
On Thursday, the Rams and East Canton (9-15) had one hit apiece after 3 1/2 innings. But that changed in the bottom of the fourth when Gehring beat out a grounder to shortstop. Mineral Ridge went on to score four runs on six hits and added the game's final run in the fifth.
Leading the offense
Katie Olive finished with two hits, while Gehring, Sarah Stark, Emily Sheller, Heather Buckner, Katie Garland and Robin Zimmerman each had one hit apiece for the Rams. Sheller accounted for two RBIs in the fourth.
"Our defense played well and we didn't make any mistakes," Croft said. "We weren't patient enough at the plate," he said of his girls swinging too soon against a slower pitcher. "We were getting too many popups, but then we adjusted and starting get a few line shots."
Gehring, a lefty on the mound and at bat, said she wasn't trying to overpower East Canton.
"I was trying to get outs, mainly risers, screwballs and fastballs," said the junior who has one no-hitter this season and a couple one-hitters. Gehring also had one 15-strikeout game this spring.
Lone hits
Losing pitcher Mandy Leach and catcher Karre Thompson had the lone hits for the Wizards.
Leach was the only East Canton player to reach second base when Katy Arick followed Leach's at-bat with a walk.
Croft was an assistant at Mineral Ridge from 1984-86 and was co-coach with Ed Strauss at Youngstown State before becoming an assistant at YSU under his daughter, Julie, for 13 seasons.
bassetti@vindy.com