Dylan Rotz singled three times and doubled while collecting a pair of runs batted in for Mars in an 8-3 home baseball victory over Highlands Thursday afternoon.

The win earns for the Planets (11-4, 10-2) an outright Section 5-AAA championship, the program's first in four years.

Zarek Simkovich was the winning pitcher, tossing six innings and allowing three runs on three hits.

David Anderson and Isaiah Johnson both singled three times for Mars.

Highlands 100 020 0 — 3 3 1

Mars 004 103 x — 8 15 1

W: Zarek Simkovich 6 IP (2K, 6BB). L: Alworth 6 IP (4K, 6BB).

Mars (11-4, 10-2): David Anderson 3-1B, Dylan Rotz 3-1B 2B 2RBI, Anthony Michalski 1B 3RBI, Eli Brooks 2-1B RBI, Isaiah Johnson 3-1B

Monday: Mars at Blackhawk

Softball

Moniteau tallied 14 hits in a 17-0, four-inning thumping of rival Karns City.

Kristina DeMatteis had three hits, including a double, scored twice and drove in two runs.

Kennedy DeMatteis added a single, triple, two runs scored and three batted in for the Warriors (14-1, 5-0).

Moniteau 560 6xx x — 17 14 0

Karns City 000 0xx x — 0 1 3

W: xxx IP (K, BB). L: xxx IP (K, BB).

Moniteau (14-1, 5-0): Gabby Stewart 2-1B 2R, Cortney Claypoole 1B 2R 3RBI, Kennedy DeMatteis 1B 3B 2R 3RBI, Kristina DeMatteis 2-1B 2B 2R 2RBI, Alazia Greaves 2-1B R 2RBI, Bailey Hoffman 1B R 2RBI, Alyssa Dailey 2-1B 2R 2RBI

Karns City: Alyssa Stitt 2B

Monday: Redbank Valley at Moniteau; Karns City at A-C Valley

Knoch 16, Mars 1 — Avery Keller had two doubles and drove in six runs in the Knights' rout.

Knoch (13-3, 6-3) broke the game open with an eight-run second inning.

Knoch 182 5xx x — 16 11 0

Mars 000 1xx x — 1 5 4

W: Celia Knappenberger 4IP (2K, 0BB). L: Niki Schlegel 2IP (1K, 3BB).

Knoch (13-3, 6-3): Sydney Natili 2B 1B, Monica Gourley 2-1B RBI, Jessi Reed 1B RBI, Avery Keller 2-2B 6-RBI, Abigail Black 1B RBI, Knappenberger 2B, Erin Luffy 2B 1B 2-RBI

Mars (8-5, 6-3): Blake Kitt 2B, Marina Manuppelli 2B, Jordyn Douglas 1B RBI

Today: Knoch at Hampton

Monday: Mars at Fox Chapel

Girls Lacrosse

Shannon Doyle and Paige Seles each scored four goals to lead Mars (12-2) to a 15-8 win over Knoch.

Ally Riley scored five goals to lead Knoch.

Boys Volleyball

Butler dropped a 3-0 decision to visiting Shaler by scores of 25-15, 25-22 and 25-18.

The loss puts Butler at 5-5 in section play and 9-6 overall.

Track and Field

A-C Valley's boys dropped decisions to Cranberry (82-61) and North Clarion (78-62) on Wednesday.

Boys

Cranberry 82, A-C Valley 61

North Clarion 78, A-C Valley 62

3,200 relay: Cranberry 9:00.0; 110 hurdles: Zacherl (C) 17.0; 100 dash: Powell (ACV) 11.6; 1,600 run: Dailey (C) 4:23; 400 run: Motley (C) 54.3; 400 relay: North Clarion 46.9; 300 hurdles: Zacherl (C) 41.8; 800 run: Gabriel (NC) 2:21; 200 dash: Kaye (NC) 24.3; 3,200 run: Keenan (C) 10:41; 1,600 relay: Cranberry 3:47

Shot put: Terwilliger (ACV) 39-10.5; Discus: Terwilliger (ACV) 107-4; Javelin: Vanek (NC) 146-11; High jump: McQuaide (C) 5-5; Long jump: Kahle (NC) 17-6.5; Triple jump: Kahle (NC) 37-10.5; Pole vault: Thompson (C) 10-0