Friday, May 28, 2004
The Rams fell behind early in a 7-1 loss .
By JOHN BASSETTI
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
KENT -- It wasn't a good sign when Crestline High sent 12 batters to the plate to Mineral Ridge's three after just 11/2 innings at Kent State University Thursday afternoon.
Those lopsided numbers translated into five hits and four runs for Crestline, which didn't need any more of either to eliminate the Rams, 7-1, in a Division IV regional softball semifinal.
The early uprising was enough to put pitcher Kaili Gehring (17-4) and the rest of the Rams behind the eight-ball.
"We talked to our girls about their hitting and that's one of the areas we have to improve on if we want to advance at this level," Mineral Ridge coach Bill Croft said. "We've got to work on the hitting more."
Sophomore is winning pitcher
Crestline's Meghan Ronk (15-2) got the better end of the deal. The sophomore pitcher located her spots well.
"I have natural wrist motions that put movement on the ball," Ronk said after allowing five hits and striking out five.
"The key was trying to keep it down on them," Ronk said of pitches that resulted in an equal number of grounders and popouts, only one of which reached the outfield.
Katie Olive was the most successful Rams hitter, as the first baseman had two singles. Gehring, Katie Garland and Heather Buckner had Mineral Ridge's only other hits.
Crestline coach Heath Sager didn't know how to classify his pitcher.
"She's kind of deceiving and different from the power pitchers who mix in the changeup," he said. "I don't really know where Meghan fits in, but she moves the ball around and is able to change speeds. I think that helps. She also believes in her defense and that helps."
Different strategy
Sager made some uncharacteristic moves in the first inning when he utilized his No. 3 and No. 4 hitters differently.
"Amanda Ronk sets the table for us," the coach said of his leadoff batter who's scored 54 runs in 27 games. "We have a few behind her who can put the bat on the ball. I rarely use Lauren Hoffer and Brittany Kick to bunt, but they've played softball since they were tikes, so they can make the plays and sacrifice themselves for the team. That's kind of what it's all about."
Hoffer's mini-bunt in the first inning allowed Amanda Ronk to score the game's first run.
Kick followed with the only extra-base hit, a double that scored Hoffer for a 2-0 lead.
Kick made her "small ball" contribution in the fifth inning when her grounder occupied the first and second basemen while Amanda Ronk came home for a 5-0 lead.
The lone run for Mineral Ridge (19-6) came in the sixth when Robin Zimmerman walked, went to second on Gehring's grounder and scored on Olive's hit.
Gehring, a junior, relinquished eight hits. She struck out two and walked two.
Crestline (24-4) plays Dalton on Saturday at 1 p.m. for the regional crown. Crestline reached the state semifinals last season before losing to Gibsonburg, 1-0. Ten players from that 2003 squad returned this spring.
bassetti@vindy.com