KARNS CITY — Karns City was no longer permitted to play softball at Kelly Automotive Park and the Gremlins were in danger of losing the field at Chicora Elementary.

So they took their balls and went home.

Literally.

Karns City home softball games are now being played at Diehl Stadium, home of the Gremlins' football team.

“The kids love it,” KC athletic director Brian Markle said. “They get to play games under the lights for the first time.”

They also have a public address announcer, concession stand and a scoreboard. They had none of those things at Chicora Elementary.

And a lot more people are watching their games, too.

“People are sticking around after home track meets to watch our games,” outfielder Emily Wolfe said. “It's fun playing in front of so many people.

“It's great just being able to play at our own school.”

Because Diehl Stadium is artificial turf, Karns City played eight of its first nine games at home because of the cold, soggy month of April.

“A lot of our early season road games got moved here because other fields just weren't playable,” KC softball coach Mike Stitt said. “I guess that means we'll have a lot of road games in the second half of our schedule.

“That's OK. At least we're getting games in.”

Chicora Elementary may be expanding its building in the near future and “that would take a chunk of that softball field over there,” Markle said.

The Gremlins tried playing softball games at Kelly Automotive Park last season, but the PIAA said that field could not be used for softball because of the baseball mound. A high school softball infield cannot have an elevated mound anywhere.

With the backstop on wheels, portable outfield fence and bases that are gripped underneath by the turf, Karns City's football field can be transformed to softball “in about 10 minutes,” Stitt said.

Only the pitching rubber and home plate are nailed into the turf.

Markle said PIAA officials were brought in to approve the softball field before any games were played on it.

“We're the only school in Western Pennsylvania that is playing softball on its football field,” Markle said. “Other schools have contacted us about leasing the field because they're having trouble getting games in.

“That would be up to the administration here. I don't know how much wear and tear they want on that turf in the spring.”

Karns City uses the football scoreboard for softball games. The “down” number is used for outs, the “To Go” number is used for the inning, the “Ball On” number is used for balls, the “Quarter” number for strikes.

The 25-yard line serves as the first base line, the hash marks are used between first and seconnd base, the 45-yard line is the base line from second to third, the soccer sideline is third to home.

The pitching rubber is on the 35-yard line.

While all of the football markings remain on the field, the players are fine with it.

“We don't pay attention to them ... We barely notice them,” first baseman Taylor Ekis said.

“The biggest difference playing here is that the ball comes at you a lot faster on turf. But we've adjusted to that.”

And softball is alive and well at Karns City.

“This is a wonderful facility,” Leechburg softball coach Debbi Young said after playing the Gremlins there. “It's a great idea, what they're doing here.

“I wish they would do the same thing with our football field.”

Stitt said the new venue can only help Karns City's softball program.

“It's a nice atmosphere. The kids get their names announced and they feel special playing here,” he said. “That's the way it should be.”