KNOX— Moniteau finally broke through — at the least expected time.

The fifth-seeded Warriors claimed the program's first District 9 Class AAgirls softball championship Wednesday with a 7-1 victory over rival Karns City at Keystone High School.

"This would feel good no matter who the opponent is,"Moniteau coach Dan Hindman said. "We'd been to the district finals three or four times before.

"This was a different way to go about winning it. These girls relished the underdog role."

And rode the accurate right arm of senior pitcher Martina Burk.

Burk scattered five hits, struck out 10 and did not walk a batter. In Moniteau's three district playoff games, she struck out 33, walked two and surrendered just four runs.

"(Hindman) reminds me to focus and process on the mound,"Burk said. "I'm big on mechanics. Just zone in and throw strikes."

Karns City's lone run crossed the plate in the sixth inning. Allyson Kepple blooped a double to left and scored on Samantha Bly's single to center.

But by that time, the Warriors had built a 7-0 lead and had the game under control.

Ashley Lominski blooped a double to left with one out in the first inning and scored on Burk's two-out single up the middle. Brandy Neff followed with a single to left and when Ashley Pisor's bunt was thrown away, courtesy runner Jaryn Beatty was able to score.

"Going to the mound with a two-run lead was huge,"Burk said. "I always have confidence in my pitching and my fielders."

"The way Martina's been pitching, we felt real good scoring two runs early,"Hindman said. "This girl's performance has a lot to do with where we're at right now."

Burk is one of just four seniors on the Moniteau roster. Shortstop Neff, left fielder Krystal Rykal and center fielder Megan Campbell are the others.

"We never expected to win the district early this season,"Neff said. "Our goal was to win the KSAC and we couldn't even do that."

Neff walked with one out in the third inning, moved to second on a passed ball, to third on an infield error and scored on a wild pitch.

Amber Neff bunted home a run in the fourth and Brandy Neff doubled in a run as the lead reached 5-0.

"We didn't execute well today in any phase of the game,"Karns City coach Mike Simpson said. "You can't take pitches and fall behind in the count against Burk and we did too much of that.

"Moniteau played hard today and played well. They deserved to win this game."

Maura McCaslin hit a run-scoring double in the fifth and pinch-hitter Sarah Dittig bunted her home. Dittig injured herself while running to first base and was carried off the field with a knee or lower leg problem.

The Warriors collected 11 hits, led by a 3-for-3 performnance by Brandy Neff. She has six hits — including three doubles — and four RBIin the postseason thus far.

"I was in a terrible slump for like three weeks,"Neff said. "I was striking out a lot. Coach Hindman concentrated more on hitting in practice leading into the playoffs because we hadn't been scoring very many runs.

"He had us trying to hit popcorn kernels with a broomstick. It's really, really hard. I think I hit one out of 50.

"But it made hitting a softball a lot easier,"Neff added.

Karns City made its first-ever trip to the district softball title game. The Gremlins are losing seniors Haley Callihan, Samantha Pyle, Alyssa Williams, Jessica Spafford and Erica Fallecker.

Spafford had two of the Gremlins' five hits Wednesday. Karns City lost starting pitcher Ashton Pakutz to a broken wrist late in the regular season. Sophomore Brandi Dunkle has been pitching since.

"We got here and that's a big step for our program,"Simpson said.

"Karns City faced some adversity this year and got through it,"Hindman said. "Mike is doing some nice things over there. They'll be heard from again."

Moniteau 201 220 0—7 11 1Karns City 000 001 0—1 5 3Martina Burk (W, 10k, 0bb) and Amber Neff; Brandi Dunkle (L, 5k, 2bb) and Samantha Pyle.

Moniteau (12-7): Ashley Lominski 2B 1B 2-R, Amber Neff RBI, Martina Burk 2-1B 2-RRBI, Brandy Neff 2B2-1BRBI, Megan Campbell 1B, Maura McCaslin 2B 1BRBI, Stephanie Bonzo 1B, Sarah Dittig RBI

Karns City (13-5): Allyson Kepple 2B, Samantha Bly 1BRBI, Jessica Spafford 2-1B, Brandi Dunkle 1B

Monday: PIAAClass AAplayoffs, Moniteau vs. Everett, TBA

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