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Raiders to meet Champion

LEAVITTSBURG — The beat goes on for the South Range softball team.

Senior pitcher Bree Kohler once again showed why she is a strong candidate for a spot on the All-Ohio team as she tossed a perfect game with 15 strikeouts in the Raiders’ 10-0 six-inning win over Kirtland on Tuesday afternoon in a Div. III district semifinal at LaBrae High School.

Kohler needed just 77 pitches — 52 of which were strikes — to wipe out the Hornets who were an 18th seed in the tournament draw.

Despite having her junior season wiped out by COVID-19, Kohler has more than 500 strikeouts in her career.

The win was also a measure of revenge for the Youngstown State softball recruit who was also a standout soccer and basketball player for South Range. On November 7, the Kirtland girls soccer team defeated the Raiders 3-0 in a Div. III soccer regional final.

Offensively the Raiders totaled 11 hits. Reagan Irons was the only Raider with an extra base knock as she had a triple to lead off the game.

The bottom of the order was the key for the Raiders with Kelly Szolek, Madison Dado and Jamie Feren also socking two hits.

South Range is 26-3 and will meet three-time defending state title-holder Champion in the district final at 5 p.m. on Thursday at LaBrae High School.

The Raiders finished fifth in Div. III Ohio High School Softball Coaches Association state poll. Champion was unranked.

Champion (19-7) was down 4-1 to Gilmour Academy in the late district semifinal game on Tuesday and rallied with a huge seven-run third inning to beat the Lancers, 11-9.

Emma Gumont had two doubles and three RBIs for the Flashes. Holley Moore added two doubles.

Champion starter Cassidy Shaffer lasted just two innings as she surrendered six hits and four runs in 54 pitches. Gumont earned the win by going five innings with 78 pitches thrown. She struck out five along the way.

South Range 10, Kirtland 0

KI: 0-0-0-0-0-0–0-0-7

SR: 1-3-0-2-3-1–10-11-0

SR–Bree Kohler, wp (6IP, 15K, 0BB)

KI–Gianna Cantini, lp (5 1/3IP, 0K, 4BB)

Champion 11, Gilmour 9

GI: 0-2-2-4-0-0-1–9-9-2

CH: 0-1-7-1-2-0-x–11-15-6

CH–Cassidy Shaffer (2IP, 2K, 0BB), Emma Gumont, wp (5IP, 5K, 2BB)

GI–Megan Mlinaric, lp (6IP, 2K, 1BB)

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