Karns City’s Tyler Dunn was glad Vincentian Academy pitcher Jay Cortese put some extra heat on the baseball Tuesday afternoon at Kelly Automotive Park.

That’s what Dunn believed the Gremlins needed.

Even if things didn’t turn out how they wanted.

Cortese only allowed two hits in six innings of work during the Royals’ 11-1 win over the Gremlins.

Being challenged by Cortese, Dunn said, sets Karns City up well for a Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference matchup Thursday at Cranberry.

The Berries have a hard-throwing lefty, Dylan Cyphert, whose fastball touches the upper-80s.

“We hadn’t seen a fast pitcher this year, so (Cortese) got us ready for that,” Dunn said. “(Cyphert) throws real hard, probably harder than (Cortese). He has a better curveball.”

Karns City didn’t get a hit off Cortese until the fourth inning, when Matt Yough snuck a ground ball down the third-base line. Dunn had the only other hit off Cortese to lead off the fifth inning.

“We had to sit back more,” Dunn said. “I was looking for the first-pitch strike, hoping he threw a fastball so I didn’t have to put up with his curveball.”

Gremlins coach Randy Collins wanted the challenge of playing Vincentian (7-3).

“That’s what we’re looking for,” Collins said. “Whenever we’re setting goals for district and conference titles to get in the state playoffs. This is what we’re going to see in states, that’s why we get these games. We want to see good pitching.”

Cortese struck out six batters and didn’t issue any walks.

He was replaced by Kyler Fedko, who struck out four batters, in the sixth inning.

“(Cortese) was locating the fastball and only walked one person,” Vincentian coach Paul Quarantillo said. “When he locates the fastball and he gets the curveball over the plate, he can be tough.”

Karns City (3-2) was also victimized by good defense.

Trailing 8-0 in the fifth inning, Evan Stitt came to the plate with runners on first and second and no outs.

Stitt lined a ball toward short that looked like it was headed toward the outfield.

Vincentian shortstop Christian Fedko made a diving catch and threw to second base to force out Dunn. An attempt at a triple play was just off, as the relay throw sailed past first base.

“I thought it was getting through with the way it was diving down,” Collins said. “I didn’t think he had a shot at it. I was calling for it from third base because I thought it was through.”

Vincentian’s offense finished with 16 hits, many of which found the right spots in the defense.

Cortese, who went 3-for-4 with two RBI, opened the scoring with a two-out, run-scoring single in the first.

Alex Sharpe followed with a singled that plated two more runs and put the Royals ahead 3-0.

With two outs in the second, Vincentian doubled its lead with two outs. Kyler Fedko, Ian Taylor and Cortese drove in runs with hits to put the Royals ahead 6-0.

Dunn kept Karns City from being shut out in the seventh inning.

After Alessandro Marotto reached on an error, Dunn doubled off the left-field wall to plate a run for the Gremlins.

Vincentian 330 021 2 — 11 16 1

Karns City 000 000 1 — 1 3 1

W: Jay Cortese 5IP (6K, 0BB). L: Matt Yough 4IP (0K, 1BB).

Vincentian (7-3): Jay Cortese 2-1B 3B 2-RBIs, Alex Sharpe 2-1B 3 RBIs, Garrett Barto 2-1B, Kyler Fedko 2-1B 2-RBIs, Ian Taylor 1B 2B 2-RBIs, Marc Cyterski 1B, Alex Madonna 1B, Nick Kempa 1B, Christian Fedko 1B, Ryan Bickert 1B

Karns City (3-2): Tyler Dunn 2-1B RBI, Yough 1B

Thursday: Karns City at Cranberry