SEWICKLEY — Knoch's softball team faces a daunting task in trying to bounce undefeated Mount Pleasant from the WPIAL Class 4A playoffs Thursday.

The Knights appeared ready for such a task Tuesday, throttling Blackhawk 12-0 in six innings in their playoff opener.

“Good all-around ball game ... I'm very happy with the way our girls played today,” Knoch coach Tim Knappenberger said.

He should be.

The Knights (13-5) banged out 13 hits in winning for the sixth time in seven games. Everyone in the lineup had a hit, RBI or run scored except for Celia Knappenberger — and she did her job on the mound.

Knappenberger struck out five, walked none and tossed a four-hit shutout. She even participated in a relay play that cut down a run at the plate to preserve the shutout.

“My No. 1 thing is to not walk people,” the senior pitcher said. “That's putting people on base who don't need to be there.

“Our defense was fantastic today. It always is. I know the girls are going to make the plays behind me.”

With two outs and a runner on second in the Blackhawk third inning, Gemma DeSanzo singled to left. The left fielder threw the ball to pitcher Knappenberger, who fired to freshman catcher Quinn Hughes.

Hughes put the tag on the runner while blocking the plate.

“Both relay throws had to be perfect and they were,” Hughes said. “I was just able to get that tag down in time.”

Hughes, who is playing catcher this season for the first time, also made a diving catch in front of the plate for the first out of that inning. The play denied the Cougars (8-6) two runners on with none out and the score was 4-0 at the time.

“That was a big play,” Coach Knappenberger said,. “It prevented them from starting a rally. Quinn is a gutsy player and a great athlete. That's why we put her back there (at catcher).”

Hughes contributed three singles and two RBI offensively as well.

Knoch shortstop Monica Gourley made a back-hand stab of a hard-hit ground ball and got a force out at second base in that pivotal third frame as well.

“They made some plays against us that stopped us from getting on the board early. Then it got away from us,” Blackhawk coach Jim Riggio said.

The Knights turned Blackhawk errors into costly mistakes as well.

A two-out run-scoring single by Abby Black gave Knoch a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Emma Brandstetter then popped up to first, but the first baseman dropped the ball as another run scored.

Hughes and Olivia Visari delivered infield singles that extended the lead to 4-0 in the opening frame.

Another dropped infield pop-up helped fuel a five-run fifth inning for the Knights. Amanda Fischer capped that rally with a two-run line-drive homer to enter.

But eight of Knoch's first nine runs were unearned.

“We capitalized on their mistakes with some timely hitting,” Coach Knappenberger said. “Defense was definitely a big factor in this win.”

Chalee Durand's two-run single capped a three-run sixth that concluded Knoch's scoring.

Blackhawk dropped its fourth straight game and has been outscored 39-3 during that stretch.

“We had a good year. Our goal was to make the playoffs and we did. We just lost focus late in the season,” Riggio said.

Cougar freshman left fielder Kelsey Stoner made a leaping catch above the left field fence, then tumbled through the fence, robbing Black of her would-be first home run in the fifth.

Gourley and Erin Luffy both had a pair of doubles to help fuel Knoch's attack. Now the Knights face a Mount Pleasant team that has allowed only 10 runs all season.

Knoch lost decisions of 2-0 and 13-3 to Mount Pleasant this season.

“It will take a tremendous game on our part to beat them. But I feel like we're capable,” Coach Knappenberger said.

Knoch 400 053 x — 12 13 1

Blackhawk 000 000 x — 0 4 3

W: Celia Knappenberger 6IP (5K, 0BB). L: Bree Dickton 6IP (3K, 3BB).

Blackhawk (8-6): Hannah Mensch 1B, Bree Dickton 1B, Gemma DeSanzo 1B, Kelsey Stoner 1B

Knoch (13-5): Amanda Fischer HR 2-RBI 2-R, Monica Gourley 2-2B 1B, Erin Luffy 2-2B 3-R, Abby Black 2-1B RBI 2-R, Emma Brandstetter 2-R, Quinn Hughes 3-1B 2-RBI 2-R, Olivia Visari 1B RBI, Chalee Durand 1B 2-RBI

Thursday: Knoch vs. Mount Pleasant, site and time TBA