The word ruler can mean a person who governs or an object used in measurements.

Today's softball City Tournament semifinals and finals at IUPUI will determine the team that qualifies for the first definition.

Bishop Chatard and Cathedral will be just as interested in the second meaning should both get to face Class 2A No. 1 Scecina.

"I'm looking forward to facing Scecina," said first-year Cathedral coach T.J. Lambert, who strengthened the team's schedule with an eye on the postseason. "It's always a good matchup, and if we're staying neck-and-neck with ranked teams, we'll get better and maybe we can overcome them in sectionals."

In the semifinals at 2 p.m., Cathedral (8-6) faces Scecina (16-0), and Chatard takes on Washington. The winners will play for the title at 4 p.m.

Scecina has won four of the past five titles. The Crusaders (five), Cathedral (three) and Chatard (one) have won the past nine City Tournament championships.

Bishop Chatard co-coach Kim Wright, who shares the duties with Kim Duncan, would see just how much progress her team has made in a rematch in the title game with Cathedral or Scecina.

The Trojans lost to Cathedral 2-0 on April 12 during a disappointing 1-3 start to the season, but they cruised into the championship of the Midwest Catholic Challenge in Louisville, Ky., on April 22 with five straight victories -- four shutouts -- by a combined score of 22-4 before losing to Scecina 14-0 in the title game.

"The Louisville trip is usually a turnaround point (in our season)," said Wright of the team's annual trip to the event, which is part of the team's current 11-3 run. "The Friday night in Louisville we played extra innings and everybody stepped up and played together (in a 5-4 victory over Central Catholic). I don't think I've ever been more proud of a team."

No. 1 pitcher Katie Johnstone may not be available today because of illness. She returned to practice Monday and has been getting back into game condition, but Wright said Johnstone's progress would determine when she pitches again. Freshmen Amy Coutz and Kim Tyler have pitched effectively in Johnstone's absence, and Wright plans to work Kathleen Lee into the mix as well.

Coutz is a hard-thrower -- harder than Johnstone, though with less control and movement, according to Wright -- while Tyler and Lee spot the ball.

Melissa Coutz is one of the team's top hitters at about .420. Jessica Zirillo and Lauren Brehm also have improved at the plate.

"It's more fun to go to practice and games and see them perform better and better," said Wright of the team post-Louisville. "This is a work in progress. Every team is a work in progress.

"We've been a little short-handed in terms of the players we want to use (due to injuries), but we'd rather be in that situation in the middle of the year than the end. We're being patient."