JEFFERSON TWP — Amanda Fischer felt jittery before her second career start for the Knoch softball team.

But using a lively fastball that she spotted up and in and a curveball that clipped the outside corner to right-handed hitters, the Knights’ freshman scattered seven hits on the way to a 5-0 shutout over Derry on a soggy Tuesday afternoon.

“I was actually a lot more nervous for this game,” Fischer said, chuckling. “I’m not sure why.”

The butterflies were apparent as she got into a bases-loaded jam in the first inning and had Derry runners on second and third in the third inning.

But Fischer got out of trouble both times, inducing a lineout to first baseman Erin Luffy in the first. Luffy made an alert play, beating Derry’s Kam Kelly back to the first base bag for an inning-ending double play.

In the third inning trouble, she wiggled out of it by getting a soft line-out to short and then a hard grounder to third baseman Abigail Black, who made a lunging stop and strong throw to nip Haley Wedow at first.

“Amanda pitched a heck of a game,” said Knoch coach Tim Knappenberger. “That is a testament to her and her hard work. All of our pitchers, Celia (Knappenberger), Erin and Amanda are all fundamentally sound. They throw strikes and then can spin pitches.”

Knappenberger is the ace of the staff, but Fischer was able to throw her second shutout of the season.

Fischer also blanked Indiana earlier this season.

“I’ve learned a lot about pitching from Celia and that no matter what she went through, she always stayed strong no matter what,” Fischer said.

Knappenberger, a junior, said she has also gleaned some things from Fischer.

“I think I teach her some things and she teaches me some things,” Celia said. “She shows me some techniques. It helps both ways.

“She’s very naturally talented and that always helps,” Celia added. “She’s a hard worker and I trust her to come in at any time, in my relief or Erin or to start a game.”

Fischer got run support, too, from Celia Knappenberger and her teammates, even with cleanup hitter and starting catcher Avery Keller out of the lineup.

Knappenberger doubled home a run, Luffy had a pair of singles and two RBI, Monica Gourley drove in a run with a single and Jessica Yenick doubled for Knoch.

Keller has missed the last two games as she and her family are out of town.

“We got some timely hitting,” Tim Knappenberger said.

“From top to bottom — and I’ve told these girls — we are just as good on paper as any team out there.”

Knoch has shown that so far on the field.

The Knights (12-1, 6-1) have won five in a row since a loss to Mount Pleasant earlier in the month. During that streak, Knoch has outscored its opponents 45-1.

“We are very excited right now,” said Tim Knappenberger. “We have some challenges ahead, starting Thursday with Mount Pleasant. They are the defending WPIAL champions. We’re looking for bigger and better things down the road.”

Derry 000 000 0 — 0 7 0

Knoch 101 120 x — 5 9 0

W: Amanda Fischer 7IP (6K, 1BB). L: Sam Detore 6IP (0K, 1BB).

Derry (3-6, 2-5): Taylor Wambold 1B, Morgan Kelly 2B, Chelsea Bisi 2-1B, Kam Kelly 1B, Detore 2B, Riley Watson 1B

Knoch (12-1, 6-1): Sydney Natili 2-1B, Monica Gourley 1B RBI, Celia Knappenberger 2B RBI, Erin Luffy 2-1B 2-RBI, Abigail Black 1B, Fischer 1B, Jessica Yenick 2B

Thursday: Knoch at Mount Pleasant