DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP Rams prevail against rival in rematch

By RYAN JONES
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
CORTLAND -- Some extra time off favored the Mineral Ridge High softball team in its Division IV district final matchup with Inter-County League rival Western Reserve.
The Rams (19-5) scored all five of their runs during the second day of play to defeat the Blue Devils, 5-1, Monday at Lakeview High School.
Mineral Ridge advanced to play Crestline (23-10) in a regional semifinal Thursday at Kent State University.
The game began last Friday afternoon and remained scoreless through the top of the third inning before being called due to weather.
"It has been a couple of years since we have played in this game, and the last time we advanced this far we lost," said Rams coach Bill Croft. "I know the girls are really excited to have won this game."
Plate production
Mineral Ridge found its offense in the bottom of the third inning.
Katie Garland led off with a single and advanced to second on Robin Zimmerman's sacrifice. Starting pitcher Kaili Gehring followed with a bloop single to center that pushed Garland to third. After a walk to Katie Olive, Sarah Stark singled home Garland for a 1-0 lead.
"I don't think the time off mattered, but we had batting practice [Sunday] and I told the girls that was the best I had seen them hit all season," Croft said, "and then we came out and hit the ball well today."
The Rams added another run in the fourth when Garland picked up her second hit, a double to left, to lead off the frame. She scored on Olive's fielder's choice to extend the lead to 3-1.
Mineral Ridge went ahead 5-1 in the sixth. Gehring singled to center, Olive doubled to left and Stark was intentionally walked to begin the inning. Gehring scored when Emily Sheller reached on an error, and Sheller scored two batters later on a groundout by Bre Ann Omerzo.
Finishing the Blue Devils
That was more than enough for Gehring, who threw a complete game five-hitter.
"She was strong today," Croft said of Gehring. "Although she did not have her usual number of strikeouts, she did have good control of her pitches."
Western Reserve scored in the fourth inning when McKenzie Mowry tripled and scored on a groundout by Quinn McCammon.
The teams split their two regular season meetings and shared the league title.
"We really wanted to come back and win this one today, since they knocked us out of sole possession of the ICL championship," Croft said.