ADAMS TWP — Knoch softball coach Scott Docherty stood in the third base coach's box and bellowed, "Ace of spades! Ace of spades!"

Docherty has a unique way of doing things. His signals sound more like something a quarterback would call out while checking to another play.

But it has been working for the Knights.

On this day, his real ace was Chelsea Martin.

The junior went 4-for-4 at the plate and was nearly flawless in the circle, striking out six, walking no one and scattering six hits in a 7-1 win over Mars Thursday.

"She was hitting her changeup tonight," Docherty said. "She threw a few that were called balls that could have been called strikes."

Martin also was hitting changeups — and fastballs and drop balls.

But so was everyone else in the Knights' lineup as Knoch banged out 13 hits against Mars pitchers Kayla Durkin and RachelPastorek.

Jade Thrower doubled twice and drove in three runs, and Kirsten Brant, who has been a terror at the plate for Knoch, also had two hits.

"All the way up and down the lineup, we have girls who can hit the ball," Docherty said. "It's incredible."

Meanwhile, Mars (1-9 overall and in the section) continues to struggle at the plate.

The Planets have scored just 20 runs in their 10 games. Seven of those runs came in an 8-7 loss to Indiana early in the season.

Leading hitterAutumn Barber doubled and singled for Mars, which left two runners stranded at third and had another caught trying to steal home in the game.

"We can't get the key hits when we need them," said Mars assistant coachMike Delduca, who is filling in for Michele Goodworth, who gave birth on Monday. "That's been the story of our season. I feel like we've been in every game. It was 7-1 today, but it felt like 2-1."

Knoch is on a decided roll.

The Knights, though, face a tough stretch of their schedule when they face Hampton and Kittanning in the next week.

"With Chelsea pitching and Amanda (Sheppeck) has been pitching well, too, giving her a break, we're felling pretty good right now," Brant said. "We have Ellwood City (10-0) on Saturday, so that will tell us where we are at."

Knoch 202 200 1—7 13 0Mars 000 100 0—1 6 2W: Chelsea Martin 7 IP (6 K, 0 BB).

L: Kayla Durkin 5 IP (1 K, 1 BB).

Knoch (9-1, 8-1): Amanda Sheppeck 1B; Chelsea Martin 3-1B, 2B, RBI; Michelle Steinmiller 1B; Kirsten Brant 2-1B; Jade Thrower 2-2B, 3-RBI; Taylor Smith 1B, RBI

Mars (1-9, 1-9): Saber Horner 1B; Kelsey Ferguson 1B; Brittany Berkopec 1B; Autumn Barber 2B, 1B

Friday: Butler at Mars

Saturday: Knoch at Ellwood City