KC lives to play another day ... maybe
KARNS CITY — One more hit. One more out.
Moniteau needed the former, Karns City the latter.
The Gremlins won out as relief pitcher Lyrik Reed struck out Halle Beatty with the bases loaded in the seventh inning, ending a furious Moniteau rally and preserving KC’s 10-8 PIAA 2A softball play-in victory Wednesday at Diehl Stadium.
The Warriors (8-13) entered the seventh trailing, 10-2. Lily Staab began the frame with a single, eventually scoring on Halle Beatty’s infield out. Greyson Rottman then struck out. The next seven batters reached for the Warriors before the rally fizzled.
“We just had to maintain our composure, take their attack,” KC coach Mikle Stitt said. “That team is much better than their record indicates. They’re never gonna quit.”
Karns City starting pitcher Addison Burrows hit a batter and walked two others. She was then replaced in the circle by Lyrik Reed, whose first pitch was hit off the second baseman’s glove and deflected into center field. Emily Staab delivered an RBI single, Lily Staab an RBI double to pull the Warriors within 10-8.
Lexi Mcghee walked to load the bases before Reed induced the game-ending strikeout.
“I thought I was gonna cry, but I didn’t,” Reed said. “It wasnt just how close the game got. This was our seniors’ last game on our home field. It got a little crazy, but we got the job done.
“I actually pitch better in stressful situations. I kind of like it.”
Karns City (12-6) has to wait a day to see if it has another game. The Gremlins are scheduled to play the loser of the Cranberry-Curwensville game — which was rained out Wednesday — for the right to advance to the state tourney as District 9’s second-place team.
If Curwensville loses to Cranberry, it would get that second spot because the Golden Tides defeated the Gremlins earlier in the district tournament. If Cranberry loses to Curwensville, it would face the Gremlins on Friday.
“Our seniors have graduation on Thursday, so that rainout works out well for them,” Stitt said. “Now we don’t have to play on Thursday.”
The late rally ultimately did not work well for Moniteau.
“One more hit. We just didn’t get it,” Moniteau coach Bob Rottman said. “We’ve had other games this season where we rallied like that and just fell short. Our girls kept playing hard. We almost pulled it off.”
The Gremlins scored nine runs in the first three innings to build a big lead early. Jada Polcynski collected a double, two singles, two runs scored and an RBI. Aubrey Taylor had two singles, two RBI and two runs, Nicole Huff two singles and three RBI.
The two pitchers Moniteau used on Wednesday — Mcghee and Graysen Rottman — are both freshmen.
Defensively, Karns City made outstanding plays in center field, at shortstop and third base during the game to prevent Moniteau from building promising scoring threats in those frames.
“We work hard on defense,” Polczynski said. “Our coach always preaches to us that defense wins championships. Those defensive plays make a difference.”
Lily Staab paced the Warriors offensively, going 4-for-4 with two doubles, two singles and scoring two runs. Ashley Huffman tripled to lead off the game and scored.
Moniteau 110 000 6 — 8 8 4
Karns City 243 010 x — 10 14 1
WP: Addison Burrows 6.2 IP (4so, 3bb). LP: Lexi Mcghee 2.2 IP (2so, 3bb).
Moniteau (8-13): Ashley Huffman 3B 2-R, Emily Staab 1B RBI, Lily Staab 2-2B 2-1B RBI 2-R, Lexi Mcghee 1B, Halle Beatty 1B 2-RBI.
Karns City (12-6): Lyrik Reed 1B 2B RBI, Addison Burrows 2B 1B RBI 2-R, Jada Polczynski 2B 2-1B RBI 2-R, Aubrey Taylor 2-1B 2-RBI 3-R, Nicole Taylor 1B RBI, Bailee O’Donnell 1B, Nicole Huff 2-1B 3-RBI, Emily Sherman 1B.
