CHERRY TWP — The ting of ball hitting aluminum bat echoed throughout the Moniteau High campus.

Moniteau pitcher Holly Colosimo turned and watched the softball that sprung off the bat of Karns City pitcher Lauren Downs sail over the left field fence.

As Downs rounded the bases, Colosimo's teammates converged on her position in the circle. They reassured her, patted her on the back and gave her a thumbs up.

Colosimo was undaunted.

The junior right-hander retired the next 10 Karns City batters she faced and let her teammates do the rest as the Warriors recovered from that early hiccup for a 3-1 home win over the Gremlins in the first round of the District 9 Class AA softball playoffs Tuesday afternoon.

“It was just one run,” Colosimo said. “My team got me calmed down. I wasn't worried about it.”

Downs' homer leading off the top of the fourth was the only real damage Karns City could inflict on Colosimo, who struck out six, didn't walk a batter and gave up just four hits.

“The key was hitting spots,” Beebe said. “Facing these guys for the third time, you have a pretty good idea how to pitch to them. These teams are pretty familiar and that's a good team over there. It's a rivalry and we always bring out the best in them and they always bring out the best in us. They had that one pitch we left out over the plate that Lauren hit over the fence, and that was about it.”

The defense behind Colosimo also was strong.

Third baseman Kaitlyn Patton made several strong defensive plays, as did left fielder Emily Hilwiller, who ran down a fly ball in the gap off the bat of Ceanca Everetts in the sixth.

Center fielder Autumn Neff made an alert play in the seventh inning, getting a force out at second base on a line drive single up the middle that froze KC baserunner Sabrina Johns at first.

“The defense backed (Colosimo) up,” said Moniteau coach Dan Beebe.

Defense ultimately let Karns City down.

Up 1-0, Karns City gave up two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning — one earned — on just one Moniteau hit.

The Warriors got another unearned run in the bottom of the fifth inning.

“We knew we couldn't make mistakes and win this game,” said Karns City coach Mike Simpson. “That's just the way it is.”

Moniteau's aggressive baserunning caused some of the miscues.

“We were having a hard time getting the ball in play,” Beebe said. “When we got a runner on, we were trying to move her around, play some small ball, steal some bases and make them make some plays.”

Downs pitched well for Karns City. She gave up only three hits — two of them to Moniteau leadoff hitter Chloe Eshenbaugh on a double and a single. She struck out three and walked three.

Downs didn't play until three weeks ago because of a broken leg suffered during soccer season.

The senior made a big difference for the Gremlins, leading them from the brink of elimination to the brink of a playoff upset.

“She's gotten better every game,” Simpson said. “She makes such a big difference for us.”

Moniteau will play Cranberry at 4:30 p.m. May 31 at Clarion-Limestone for the district championship.

“(Before the season) I didn't think we would be 15-1 and be where we are,” Colosimo said. “I'm glad we are, though. It's very exciting and we have a great team.”

Karns City 000 100 0 — 1 4 3Moniteau 000 210 x — 3 3 0W: Holly Colosimo 7IP (6 K, 0 BB).

L: Lauren Downs 6 IP (3 K, 3 BB).

Karns City (7-8): Downs HR RBI, Jensen Bachman 2B, Sabrina Johns 1B

Moniteau (15-1): Chloe Eshenbaugh 2B 1B, Autumn Neff RBI, Emily Hiwiller RBI, Cassidy Maples 1B

May 31: Moniteau vs. Cranberry at Clarion-Limestone, 4:30 p.m.