CHICORA — Lauren Downs felt the pain in her left leg, but ignored it.

It throbbed when she ran. It panged when she was still. It was a struggle to merely bend her knee.

That's when Downs simply couldn't ignore it any longer.

“I played the whole soccer season with the lower part of my femur broken off,” Downs said with a grimace on her face. “Yeah, it hurt really bad. But it wasn't until it locked up that I knew there was a problem.”

The problem was fixed in December with a surgery that screwed the broken piece of bone back to her femur. Another operation in February removed the screws and cleared the way for arduous rehab.

It paid off last week when Downs was able to return to the circle for the Karns City softball team — just four months after major surgery.

“It's nice to have her back,” said Gremlins' softball coach Mike Simpson. “It's nice to have everyone back in the lineup and back in the positions where they belong.”

Monday afternoon's contest against Keystone was the third game back in uniform for Downs, and the right-hander didn't disappoint.

She tossed a one-hit shutout in the Gremlins' 10-0, five-inning victory. Downs struck out six and didn't walk a batter.

Perhaps just as important was junior Breezzie Rich was able to return to her more natural position at shortstop.

Rich made two excellent plays in the field for the Gremlins.

Rich was thrust into the role of pitcher for eight games during Downs' absence.

“We were in a pinch,” Simpson said. “In those first eight games, if Breezzie would have gone down, we would have been in big trouble. She pitched well in those games. She kept us in every game except one against Clarion, and I don't think anyone could have kept us in a game against Clarion. They are the real deal.”

Rich had pitched in a few junior varsity games during her career, but rarely entered the circle for the varsity team.

But there she was early this season, the ball in her hand with no relief in sight.

“It was a little challenging, but it felt good to be pitching again,” Rich said. “It came back right away. It helps having a good team behind you.”

Still, with Rich in the circle and not at shortstop and Downs hitting the weight room three times a day, she said, in order to return this season, the Gremlins struggled.

Downs, though, has given the team a shot in the arm as the final five games loom.

And Rich's sacrifice was not lost on her coach or on her teammates.

“I give Breezzie all the credit in the world,” said Karns City senior catcher Kate Williams. “She's one of my best friends, and she really stepped up. She was a very good sport about it.”

Rich admits she is happy to be back at shortstop, but misses pitching, too.

“I like pitching,” Rich said. “But I've been a shortstop for two years and it feels good to be back out there again.”

Downs, who wears a bulky brace on her left leg when she plays, is just happy to be anywhere in the field.

Downs said she was pleasantly surprised about how quickly everything fell back into place for her when she returned for the first time April 29.

“I was nervous, but I was fine the first day I started pitching again,” Downs said. “It was all muscle memory.”

Williams, who has caught for Downs since they first started playing softball as little girls, said she had no doubt Downs could pick up where she left off last season.

“She really is back,” Williams said. “I've had the opportunity to work with both Lauren and Breezzie for many years — summer leagues, varsity — and Lauren is right back to where she was.”

Even with Downs back, the Gremlins face an up-hill battle.

Karns City is 4-6 and must win four of its final five games to make the playoffs.

That doesn't bother Downs, Rich or Williams, however.

“I think coaches are going to be worried to play us now,” Williams said. “I think we're stronger. We're going to give people a run for their money.”