Defending Division II state softball champion Kenton Ridge, ranked No.1 in the Associated Press state poll, was the team to beat coming into the regional semifinals. And the Ross Rams did just that.

        Behind the pitching of Rachel Richardson, the Rams eliminated Kenton Ridge 5-2 Wednesday at Clayton Northmont High School.

        Ross advances to Saturday's regional championship against the winner of today's Benjamin Logan/Chaminade-Julienne game, also at Northmont.

        After giving up runs in the first and second innings, Richardson settled down and held the Cougars scoreless the rest of the way.

        The Rams then took charge, scoring five times in the third inning.

        Katie Weisbecker reached first on an error to start the inning. Later, Elaine Haubner and Carrie Weisbecker drove in two runs apiece.

        “Elaine's single came after she fouled off six or seven pitches,” Ross coach Paul Fernandez said. “It was a single up the middle that seemed to loosen things up for us.”

        The final Ross run came when Stevie Guenther scored on Rachel Montezinos' RBI groundout to right field.

        Kenton Ridge ....... 110  000  0—2  7  2

        Ross ....... 005  000  x—5  6  1

        WP—Rachel Richardson (4 Ks, 19-1). LP—Binz (8 Ks). Hitting Leaders: R—C. Weisbecker 3-4, 2 RBI; Haubner 2 RBI. K—Williams 2-4; Harrison 3-4. Records: Ross 27-4, Kenton Ridge 25-5.

        • McAuley 5, Lakota West 3, Division I regional at University of Dayton — Junior Jennifer Esterman was helped by the Mohawks' three-run first inning, and she went on to pitch McAuley into Saturday's championship game against the winner of today's Hamilton/Fairfield game.

        Lakota West ....... 000  000  3—3   6  2

        McAuley ....... 300  011  x—5  14  3

        WP—Esterman (11-2). LP—Hess. Hitting leaders: M—Bittner 2-4; Burda 2-4; Sunderman 2-4; Salis 2-3, 2 RBI; Miller 2B; Fluegeman 2-4; Zartman 2-3. LW—Meier 2-4; Nowicki 2-4, 2RBI. Records: M 21-6.

        • Covington 14, Middletown Fenwick 0, Division IV regional at Huber Heights Wayne — The Falcons fell behind in the first inning and were no match for a Covington team that brought a 21-6 record into the game.

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