ADAMS TWP — Just two seasons ago, the Knoch girls softball team had one win, few fans and little hope for the future.

But with a strong fan following at Mars Tuesday, the Knights went from worst to first in just 24 months with a 3-1 win over the Planets.

"I'm so proud of these girls," said Knoch coach Scott Docherty. "Remember, two years ago these girls were called losers. Now we can call them champions."

The win gives Knoch (14-4, 11-4) a share of the section title with Hampton, which beat Highlands Tuesday to improve to 11-4 in section play.

The remarkable turnaround was not lost on the players, either.

"Wow! This feels amazing," said pitcher Stephanie Fincher, who struck out five and walked one to pick up the win.

Knoch managed just three hits and struck out 17 times against Mars pitcher Monica Glomb, who ran her season strikeout total to 211.

But the three runs the Knights got against the senior were unearned.

It was the second time Knoch has defeated Glomb this season and the first time in school history on the Mars softball field.

"To come into Mars and beat Monica Glomb is a difficult, difficult task," Docherty said. "I've always said she is the best pitcher in Western Pennsylvania. She has more movement on the ball than anyone I have ever seen in my life, and I've been around this sport for a long time."

Two runs scored on a single by Kirsten Brant and a three-base error to give the Knights a 2-1 lead.

Knoch scored an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning on a throwing error.

Brittany Berkopec had three hits for Mars. She led off the bottom of the first with a single and scored on an RBI double by Saber Horner.

After that, Fincher settled down and kept Mars off the scoreboard.

Glomb was just as effective. She struck out 11 straight Knights at one point.

"She had a nice performance," said Mike DelDuca. "It's just a shame we didn't score more runs for her. We hit the ball well today, sometimes hitting the ball at the fielders and sometimes hitting the umpires."

Pinch-hitter Jaclyn Skurko hit a line drive between first and second with a runner on first in the sixth inning, but her shot that was destined for the right-center field gap struck the base umpire for an infield single.

Despite the loss, Mars is in the playoffs and will most likely get a section champion in the first round.

No problem, says DelDuca.

"Hey, we didn't beat any easy teams last year," he said. "If we get a section champ, I'm all for it. If we beat them, we get them out of the way early. With Monica, we can beat anybody."

Knoch enters the playoffs on a decided high. The Knights are still pinching themselves to make sure this dramatic turnaround is real.

"It is surreal," Brant said. "I don't think anybody really expected us to make the playoffs in the first place, let alone be section champs."

Knoch 000 200 1—3 3 0Mars 100 000 0—1 6 2Stephanie Fincher and Lizz King; Monica Glomb and Brittany Berkopec.

W: Fincher (5 K, 1 BB).

L: Glomb (17 K, 1 BB).

Knoch (14-4, 11-4): Chelsea Martin 2B, Kirsten Brant 1B, Amanda Sheppeck 2B

Mars (10-7, 9-6): Brittany Berkopec 2-1B 2B, Saber Horner 1B 2B RBI, Jaclyn Skurko 1B

Today: Knoch at Pine-Richland; North Hills at Mars