Patrick Henry pitchers handcuff Reading

Zac Jackson, OhioHSsports.com, June 05, 2009 2:49 p.m.

COLUMBUS -- Last year, Patrick Henry's bats pushed the Patriots to a state title.

Pitching and defense have them one game away from winning another.

Five innings of two-hit ball from freshman Nick Gerschutz preceded two clean innings by senior Brian Kline in a 2-0 win over Cincinnati Reading in a Div. IV state semifinal Friday afternoon.

Shortstop Cody Meyer drove in both runs and made an outstanding defensive play in the sixth inning, sprinting to his right to snare a line drive.

The Patriots are 24-4 and play New Middletown Springfield Saturday at 4 p.m. for the state title.

Kasey Spence got the game's first hit in the bottom of the third inning, then scored on a two-out bloop single over the first baseman's head by Meyer. A one-out single to left in the fifth by Meyer scored nine-hitter Brian Kline, who'd opened the inning with an infield single and moved to second on Mitch Leonard's ground out.

Gerschutz had just one strike out, but he threw strikes, induced popups and had a strong defense behind him.