FAIRVIEW TWP - Scott Jordan made short work of Redbank Valley.

Very short work.

Working quickly and throwing strikes, the Karns City right-hander had Redbank Valley hitters flailing away at his offerings on the way to a three-hit shutout as the Gremlins toppled the Bulldogs, 6-0 Monday.

The game lasted just one hour, 20 minutes.

"I have time to go home and cut my grass," said Karns City coach Dave McElroy.

That's because Jordan mowed down Redbank Valley hitters like clockwork.

Jordan gave up just one hit through the first three innings, the only hit a long single by Ryan Toth that hit midway up the fence in left field.

Redbank Valley pitcher Shane Bell matched Jordan pitch for pitch in the first two innings but ran into serious trouble in the third.

Jordan hit a solo home run and David Slagle hit a three-run shot that one-hopped an above-ground swimming pool beyond the left-field fence to give the Gremlins a 4-0 lead.

"He's a good fastball hitter," McElroy said of Slagle. "He puts to use what he does well. Until he has to look for something offspeed, he looks for a fastball."

Slagle has had success against Reed.

The first time the two teams played, Slagle hit a three-run homer to lift Karns City to a 5-1 win.

The Gremlins' strategy against Reed was to look for fastballs early in the count.

"We have a bunch of guys who are first ball, fastball hitters," McElroy said. "If you get behind (in the count) against Reed, he's tough."

But Jordan was tough no matter what the count, although he was ahead much of the time.

Jordan mixed a lively fastball with a sharp breaking curveball. He also hit his locations, striking out six and walking no one.

"He's a very, very good pitcher," said Redbank Valley coach Mike Brown. "He kept us off balance and we were jumping out on our front foot a lot."

Karns City (8-0, 7-0) also played splendid defense behind Jordan.

Third baseman Mike Stimac made two diving stops on sharply hit grounders for outs, and Jordan made a stellar play of his own, sprinting off the mound, falling, but recovering to scoop up a ground ball and beat the runner to the first-base bag.

Lucky for Jordan, the game was played.

Heavy rain Sunday and early Monday put the game in jeopardy.

But the Karns City grounds crew, athletic director Tom Wagner, McElroy and several parents got the field in playing condition.

It also helped McElroy's pitching staff.

"If we wouldn't have played today, we would have made it up on Tuesday," McElroy said. "We have games on Thursday, Friday, a doubleheader on Saturday and a game on Monday.

"I would have had to juggle my No. 1 and No. 2 guys to get them in at least two games each," McElroy said. "I'm just glad we got the chance to play this one today."

Redbank 000 000 0 - 0 3 2

Karns City 004 020 x - 6 8 0

WP:

Scott Jordan (7 IP) 6 strikeouts, 0 walks.

LP:

Shane Reed (5 IP) 5 strikeouts, 2 walks

Redbank Valley (5-3):

Ryan Toth 2-1B; Jason Smith 1B

Home team (8-0, 7-0):

David Slagle HR, 1B, 3-RBI; Scott Jordan HR, 1B, RBI; Travis Simpson 2-1B, 2-RBI

Thursday:

North Clarion @ Karns City