Moniteau baseball’s Dawson Cook takes life out of Karns City bats in win over rivals
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Moniteau Ian Ross (1) delivers a pitch against Karns City in a baseball game Thursday, April 17, 2025, at Pullman Park.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Karns City Jacob Jones (20) hits the ball against Moniteau in a baseball game Thursday, April 17, 2025, at Pullman Park.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Karns City Adam Manuel (17) delivers a pitch against Moniteau in a baseball game Thursday, April 17, 2025, at Pullman Park.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Moniteau Alex James (17) hits the ball against Karns City in a baseball game Thursday, April 17, 2025, at Pullman Park.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Moniteau Dawson Cook delivers a pitch against Karns City in a baseball game Thursday, April 17, 2025, at Pullman Park.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Moniteau Brennan Kelly (11) slides back to first safe against Karns City Koen Williams (20) in a baseball game Thursday, April 17, 2025, at Pullman Park.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Moniteau Brennan Kelly (11) slides back to first safe against Karns City Koen Williams (20) in a baseball game Thursday, April 17, 2025, at Pullman Park.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Moniteau Connor Ealy (5) watches the ball after hitting it against Karns City in a baseball game Thursday, April 17, 2025, at Pullman Park.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Moniteau Dawson Cook (4) celebrates after a strikeout against Karns City in a baseball game Thursday, April 17, 2025, at Pullman Park.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Moniteau Alex James (17) slides into home plate safe against Karns City Troy Nagel (18) in a baseball game Thursday, April 17, 2025, at Pullman Park.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Moniteau Dawson Cook (4) celebrates a strikeout to end the inning against Karns City in a baseball game Thursday, April 17, 2025, at Pullman Park.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Moniteau Blaine Jamison (11) slides to fsecond base safe against Karns City in a baseball game Thursday, April 17, 2025, at Pullman Park.(Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
BUTLER TWP — Moniteau pitcher Dawson Cook described his fastball as “really living” Thursday night at Pullman Park.
It also took the life out of Karns City’s bats.
Cook struck out 11 in 6.2 innings, limiting the Gremlins to five hits in a 3-1 Warrior baseball victory.
“That was a monumental effort, very gritty,” Moniteau coach Ross Martin said of his pitcher.
Martin pulled Cook from the mound with two outs and the bases empty in the seventh. He was sitting on 99 pitches. Ian Ross took over, recording a strikeout to end the game and earn the save.
“I wanted to finish the game, sure,” Cook said. “When I saw (Martin) walking toward me, I asked him, ‘Am I done?’ He nodded, and I gave him the ball. It’s a team game, I trust my teammates and Ian does a great job.”
Martin admitted it was hard to pull Cook, but said “it was time. We’re a team. And Ian took care of business quickly.”
Karns City (4-4) scored its lone run in the first inning. Colton Christie walked, was bunted to second by Mason Sherwin and scored on Adam Manuel’s two-out single to left. The Gremlins had runners at second and third with one out in the third and sixth innings, but couldn’t push another run across.
“We’ve been getting a lot of baserunners lately. We’re just not getting the big hit,” KC coach Josh “Sluggo” Smith said. “We didn’t get the bat on the ball when we needed to.
“Baseball is a tough game. It doesn’t always go your way. We have to fight through this.”
The Warriors (5-4) tied the game in the third as Alex James singled to center with one out, Ross was hit by a pitch and Cook delivered an RBI single to center. James drew bases-loaded walk from Jacob Jones in the sixth to give Moniteau the lead.
Jones relieved starter Manuel, who struck out seven in five-plus innings, but threw 91 pitches.
“Their guy (Cook) was getting a lot of 1-2 and 0-2 counts, we were getting a lot of 2-0 and 2-1 counts,” Smith said. “We have to pitch to contact here. We’re playing in the biggest ballpark in Butler County. We have to use that.”
Moniteau added an insurance run in the seventh. James Gillen reached on an infield error and eventually scored on Derrik Moyer’s single to center.
“My slider was working and my fastball was humming in there all night,” Cook said. “This was fun tonight. They (Gremlins) are our rivals. I love beating those guys.”
Smith admitted a wide strike zone was affecting hitters on both teams.
“I thought it took away from the atmosphere of the rivalry,” he said of the plate umpire’s zone. “There wasn’t much the hitters could do with that. Still ...we have to put the ball in play.”
Moniteau 001 001 1 - 3 7 0
Karns City 100 000 0 - 1 5 3
WP: Dawson Cook 6.2IP (11so,1bb). LP: Adam Manuel 5IP (7so, 2bb).
Moniteau (5-4): Alex James 1B RBI, Dawson Cook 1B RBI, James Gillen 1B, Weston Cook 2-1B, Derrik Moyer 1B RBI, Blaine Jamison 1B.
Karns City (4-4): Colton Christie 1B, Mason Sherwin 2-1B, Jacob Jones 1B, Adam Manuel 1B RBI.
Friday: Moniteau at New Castle
Tuesday: Karns City at Lakeview
