Firing Blanks
In its four previous games entering Monday's meeting with Redbank Valley, the Karns City baseball team scored a total of 56 runs.
Gremlins' coach Josh Smith knew his offense would come back down to earth at some point. He also knew the competitor he had going on the mound against the Bulldogs.
Junior pitcher Tyler Yough frustrated Redbank's bats, allowing just four hits in a 3-0 victory at Kelly Automotive Park. The win keeps Karns City perfect at 6-0.
“He's a stud whether on the mound or at the plate,” Smith said of Yough, who struck out five and walked two. “We know exactly what we're getting when he's out there. He battles.”
Most of the fighting Yough turned in Monday came early in the game as Redbank managed two baserunners in each of the first three innings. He stranded Bulldogs at first and second in the first two frames. In the third, a base hit from Bryan Layton and a walk to Kobe Bonanno led to runners at second and third with two outs. Yough induced Nick Smith to ground out to end the threat.
The last hit Yough gave up was Jimmy Gundlach's single in the fourth. He achieved a shutout despite three errors made behind him.
“Nobody is going to make every play,” said Yough, “but I have confidence that my defense is going to make the big plays when we need them.”
Yough received all the offense he would need in the bottom of the first.
Nolan Riley drew a walk from Redbank starter Grayson Harman. Yough then reached on a fielding error, setting the stage for Jake Weckerly's two-run single.
Harman lasted through the fifth inning, allowing one more run on Steve O'Donnell's fielder's choice that plated Cam Blair in the bottom of the fourth.
Harman finished with four strikeouts and a pair of walks while allowing five hits.
“He's our No. 2 and I thought he pitched well today,” said Redbank Valley coach Craig Hibell. “The difference in the game, they got the big hit and we didn't.”
Blair was the only Gremlin with multi-hits, collecting a pair of singles. Colton Hutchison's double in the bottom of the first inning was the lone extra-base hit in the game.
“We hit a lot of balls hard,” said Smith. “Most of them were right at people, but I consider that a good at-bat.”
Blaney Brooks pitched a scoreless sixth inning for the Bulldogs (2-2).
The Gremlins travel to Forest Area Tuesday before returning to the KAP to host Brookville Thursday.
Redbank Valley 000 000 0 — 0 4 3
Karns City 200 100 x — 3 6 3
W: Tyler Yough 7 IP (5K, 2BB). L: Grayson Harman 5 IP (4K, 2BB).
Redbank Valley (2-2): Grayson Harman 1B, Bryan Layton 1B, Jimmy Gundlach 1B, Austin Leasure 1B
Karns City (6-0): Steve O'Donnell RBI, Nolan Riley 1B R, Tyler Yough R, Jake Weckerly 1B 2RBI, Colton Hutchison 2B, Logan Pistorius 1B, Cam Blair 2-1B R
Tuesday: Karns City at Forest Area
