CHICORA — LeeAnn Gibson the pitcher was certainly glad LeeAnn Gibson the hitter was around.

Gibson reached base four times, stole two bases and drove in four runs to spark a Karns City softball offense that gave her plenty of run support in the circle in a 9-7 win over Cranberry in the District 9 Class AA semifinals at Chicora Elementary on a sunny Wednesday afternoon.

Gibson took a 9-4 lead into the top of the seventh inning, but gave up three runs on five singles — four straight with two outs — before getting a strikeout to end the game.

“I was starting to get a little worried because they were starting to catch on,” Gibson said.

The win puts Karns City (9-3) into the District 9 Class AA championship game for the first time since 2009.

It was by no means easy to get there for the Gremlins.

Gibson's two-run single in the bottom of the second inning staked Karns City to a 3-1 lead and the Gremlins extended it to 4-1 on a RBI single by Morgan Deal in the bottom of the third.

But Cranberry tied it in the top of the fifth on a three-run home run by Kendra Schreck to the deepest part of the cavernous Chicora Elementary field.

Cranberry (11-6) had all the momentum.

It didn't last long.

The Gremlins responded with four runs in the bottom of the fifth, capped by another two-run single by Gibson.

Ashley Coon started off the rally with a triple.

“I don't think we were relaxed (after Cranberry tied the game), but we know what it takes to compete,” Coon said. “We knew we could do it. We feed off each other. If one girl gets it started, it's contagious.”

Coon finished 3-for-4 with an RBI for Karns City. Clara Stoughton also has two hits and a RBI and Taylor Downs doubled and singled for the Gremlins.

Cranberry used three pitchers and all three were charged with at least a run as Karns City tacked on another in the bottom of the sixth for a 9-4 lead.

“When they are hitting the ball, it is what it is,” Cranberry coach Shawn Bean said. “When they are base hits, they're base hits. My hat's off to (Karns City). They did a nice job hitting the ball and they answered every time we answered.”

Karns City coach Jim Gibson said he was happy to see his team hit well in the clutch against the Berries.

Hitting with runners in scoring position had been inconsistent heading into the playoffs.

“We've been struggling all year coming up with the big hits when we need to,” the coach said. “Tonight we got them. That's a quality team over there and they keep coming.”

Karns City will have a week to prepare for either Moniteau or Curwensville. That semifinal game was postponed until today.

Coon is just happy to be playing in the title game no matter the opponent.

“It feels great, yeah. It feels awesome,” Coon said. “It's been our goal all year to get there.”

Cranberry 100 030 3 — 7 13 2

Karns City 121 041 x — 9 11 3

W: LeeAnn Gibson 7IP (2K, 1BB). L: Sarah Barcinas 2.1IP (4K, 1BB).

Cranberry (11-6): Courtney Allen 1B, Bree Swartzfager 1B, Nicole Hutchison 1B, Brittani Burris 2B 2-1B 2-RBI, Kendra Schreck HR 2-1B 3-RBI, Josie Black 1B RBI, Julia Swartzfager 3-1B RBI

Karns City (9-3): LeeAnn Gibson 2B 1B 2-BB 2-SB 4-RBI, Taylor Downs 1B 2B, Ashley Coon 2-1B 3B RBI, Morgan Deal 1B RBI, Clara Stoughton 2-1B 2-RBI, Jordan Downs 1B RBI, Alyssa Gibson 1B

Wednesday: Karns City vs. Moniteau-Curwensville winner in District 9 Class AA championship game, site and time TBD