ADAMS TWP - On Senior Day, Kara Stroup enjoyed a senior moment.

Mars' fourth-year catcher hit the longest home run of her career -n her final regular season at-bat Monday, igniting a three-run sixth inning that carried the Planets to a 4-0 girls softball win over Knoch.

The victory clinched at least a tie for first place in Section 2-AA, marking the Planets' first section softball crown since 1993.

"It feels great," Stroup said. "We've been gearing toward this. I believed for a long time this could be our year."

The Planets' battery of freshman pitcher Monica Glomb and catcher Stroup are a big reason why.

Glomb pitched a two-hit shutout, allowing only singles to Knoch's Erin Yetter and Lizz King, struck out eight and did not walk a batter. She has seven of Mars' nine victories this spring.

Stroup hit over .500 this season - 26 hits in 49 at bats - and the sixth-inning home run was the eighth of her varsity career.

"I was worried about this game because it's an emotional day for our seniors and it's a game we had to win," Mars coach Michele Goodworth said. "And it's hard to get up for a team you beat 16-3 earlier in the year."

But the Knights kept the game scoreless until the bottom of the fourth inning. Brie Robison singled with one out for the Planets, moved to second on Ashley Phelps' infield single, stole third and scored on a wild pitch.

Robison just beat the tag by Knoch pitcher Sarah Hlebiczki, who covered home on the play.

That was the only run of the game until the sixth.

"I've been telling the girls we have to win one-run games because that's what softball becomes at this time of year," Goodworth said.

Stroup came to the plate in the Mars sixth recalling her last at bat in the fourth. She took a called third strike that inning - the first time she struck out in more than 75 plate appearances, dating back to the middle of last season.

"In my mind, I had to do something about that (strikeout)," Stroup said. "I had to do something about it for myself."

Stroup hit a towering home run that sailed over the left-field fence, then over the concession stand located beyond it.

"That was her longest home run, no doubt," Goodworth said.

The homer was so impressive that pitcher Hlebiczki congratulated Stroup afterward.

Robison followed Stroup's blast with a double off the left-field fence. Senior Amy Watson delivered a two-run single to right later in the frame to finally break the game open.

"Mars has a very good team," Knoch coach Julia Nesbitt said. "They just don't give up runs. They have good pitching, excellent defense. They have no holes anywhere."

Both teams completed the regular season Monday. While Mars gets ready for the WPIAL playoffs next week, Knoch begins preparing for next season.

"We lose five seniors, we have a lot of eighth graders coming up and we bump up to Class AAA next year," Nesbitt said. "We're looking forward to a fresh start."

Mars seniors honored before the game were Stroup, Watson, Megan Maloni, Ashleigh Smith and Lindsay Giel.

Knoch 000 000 0 - 0 2 0

Mars 000 103 x - 4 7 1

WP:

Monica Glomb (7 IP) 8 strikeouts, 0 walks.

LP:

Sarah Hlebiczki (6 IP) 6 strikeouts, 2 walks

Knoch (3-13, 2-6):

Erin Yetter 1B, Lizz King 1B

Mars (9-7, 7-1):

Megan Maloni 1B, Kara Stroup 1B HR, Brie Robison 1B 2B 2-R, Ashley Phelps 1B, Amy Watson 1B 2-RBI

May 19:

Mars in WPIAL playoffs, TBA