MINERAL RIDGE/MATHEWS SOFTBALL Solid play leads to shutout win

Rams pitcher Kaili Gehring dominated on the mound and hit .750 in the game.
MINERAL RIDGE -- The Mineral Ridge High softball team had one vision -- a Division IV sectional title and no one, not even a solid team led by the Rams' former coach, would stand in their way.
The Rams proved fundamentally sound through all seven innings and were victorious over Mathews, 4-0, in Wednesday's tournament game.
"We played a great game," Ridge coach Bill Croft said.
"The kids were really up for it and they really wanted it today. I knew if they did the things they were capable of, we would have a great game."
These two evenly-matched teams battled until the third inning when Mineral Ridge's Jamie Goodman made hard contact to the shortstop.
But instead of throwing the ball over to first base for the third out, the Mustangs shortstop threw home but not in time as the Rams inched ahead, 1-0.
The Rams produced eight hits, including a triple by senior pitcher Kaili Gehring.
Although this was the two teams' first meeting of the season, each knew what to expect.
"We knew they had a good pitcher," Croft said of Mathews standout Caitlyn Youngs. "We worked on hitting a lot the past few days and set up the [pitching] machine at higher speeds."
It certainly paid off, and in the fifth inning, a hard line drive by Katie Garland split the shortstop and third baseman, allowing the runner on third to score for a 2-0 lead. Garland later scored on a Mustangs' fielding error.
"We made a couple of little mistakes" said Matthews coach Gene Cheddar of his team's mental errors. "That's what it comes down to."
Cheddar previously coached at Mineral Ridge for six years and made the transition last season to the Mustangs. He admits it's hard having known the Mineral Ridge girls, but also recognizes their talent.
"She's a real good pitcher and did a nice job for them," said Cheddar of Ridge's ace Gehring.
Mathews tallied two hits, singles by Youngs and Sarah King.
"We hit the ball, but not as well as we wanted," Cheddar said. "A lot of what we did hit was right at people."
Solid defense behind her
Mineral Ridge's defense neared perfection, chalking one error.
Gehring praised her defense, saying it makes her job a lot easier.
"I always feel a lot of pressure, but I know I have a strong defense behind me," Gehring said. "It's comforting."
Gehring not only dominated on the mound, but went 3-for-4 at the plate.
She admits to swinging at bad pitches lately but that was certainly not the case today. She looks to continue her career possibly at Baldwin-Wallace College with an interest in medicine.
Mineral Ridge will advance to the Cortland District and will play archrival Western Reservenext Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. at Lakeview High.
"It would be nice to play them again," Gehring said of their Inter-County League rivals.