Sadowski's gem sparks Gremlins
FAIRVIEW TWP — Derek Sadowski is listed as a sophomore on the Karns City baseball roster — he just doesn't pitch that way.
In the semifinal round of the District 9 Class AA playoffs against Moniteau, Sadowski tossed a complete game with eight strikeouts and no walks in an 8-1 victory over the Warriors Wednesday.
He scattered six hits, the last a being solo home run by Moniteau's Heath Lominski in the sixth inning.
"Derek pitched a tremendous game and he's done it all year," said Gremlins coach Travis Twentier. "A 10th grader with that much poise — that's something you don't rely on much."
Having played Moniteau twice this season, Twentier and his staff devised a game plan for Sadowski, which he followed to the letter.
""He placed his pitches," said Twentier. "He made one mistake, but he did a great job spotting his pitches and keeping the curveball down in the zone."
"I knew they could hit and I wanted to try and keep the ball down," said Sadowski, whose win helped Karns City reach the district championship game next Wednesday against Redbank Valley, a 10-3 winner over Brookville.
"I felt more comfortable with a cushion," Sadowski added.
"(Sadowski) showed he will throw any pitch on any count," said Moniteau coach Ross Martin. "To his credit, he threw the ball where he wanted to. We didn't hit the ball."
The Gremlins (13-7) took a 3-0 lead in the second inning when, with one out, Brad Fuhrer reached on an error, then Zach Kepple singled and Nick Ganter walked to load the bases against Moniteau starter Braydon McCorry.
Sadowski grounded into a fielder's choice to plate Fuhrer. After a walk to Cole Rottman loaded the bases, Eric McCue lined a two-run single.
Moniteau (7-11) got a pair of hits off Sadowski in the fourth inning, but couldn't push a run through.
Karns City responded with five runs in the home half of the fourth inning.In relief of McCorry, Zack Wheeler opened the inning with four consecutive walks that scored a run before Jereme Ritts entered the game.McCue had an RBI single, then a wild pitch scored the third run.After Brian Best walked to put runners on the corners, a throwing error by catcher Lominski down the third-base line brought in another run, then Zach Barney smacked an RBI double to make it 8-0.Moniteau escaped further damage when Ritts induced Fuhrer into an inning-ending double play.Moniteau did get a pair of two-out singles from Aaron Shreve and Brandon Bonzo in the fifth inning, but Jay Wiles grounded out."The last seven games, we couldn't seem to piece anything together," said Martin. "Our hitting was very sporadic."The Gremlins, however, are hitting their stride in the latter half of the season."We've been practicing real hard for this," said Sadowski. "Now that we're in (the championship game), it's great."<B>Moniteau 000 001 0 — 1 6 4Karns City 030 500 x — 8 6 0W:</B> Derek Sadowski 7 IP (8K, 0BB). <B>L:</B> Braydon McCorry 3 IP (3K, 2BB).<B>Moniteau (7-11):</B> Brandon Bonzo 1B; Heath Lominski 1B, HR; Braydon McCorry 1B; Josh Stockert 1B; Aaron Shreve 1B<B>Karns City (13-7):</B> Eric McCue 2-1B, 3 RBI; Zach Barney 2B, RBI; Brad Fuhrer 1B; Zach Kepple 1B; Derek Sadowski 1B, RBI; Cole Rottman 1B<B>Wednesday:</B> District 9 AA Championship Game-Karns City vs. Redbank Valley, site and time TBD
