In one respect, Karns City's latest District 9 baseball title was 15 years in the making.

The Gremlins used a four-run second inning and a complete game from pitcher Derek Sadowski to defeat rival Moniteau 7-3 in the Class AA final Thursday afternoon at Pullman Park.

It is KC's first district baseball title since 1996.

The Gremlins came close last season before losing to Redbank Valley, 4-3 in eight innings. That game's winning run was scored on a controversial safe call at home plate.

“That game left a bad taste in our mouth,” said KC coach Randy Collins, who was an assistant coach for the Gremlins in 2010. “This is what we've been shooting for all season. First, we wanted to win the KSAC, which we did, and then districts.”

“We had a lot of starters back from last season,” said KC first baseman Zach Kepple, who drove in three runs in Thursday's victory. “This was our goal and to play well in a big game, it just makes it that much better.”

Kepple was part of the Gremlins' big second inning, which included a 20-minute rain delay and nine KC batters at the plate.

Already leading 1-0, three of the Gremlins' first four hitters reached base in the second, one on a Moniteau fielding error and two on free passes from Warriors' starter Braydon McCorry.

With the bases loaded, Zach Barney singled home Brandyn Bowser and Jerod Hutchison.

Brian Best later scored on a double steal and Zach Kepple's RBI single scored Tyler Kepple for a 5-0 lead.

McCorry did not make it out of the inning. Following a two-out walk to Brad Fuhrer, the right-hander was relieved by Josh Stockert.

McCorry struck out one and walked five in his 1.2 innings of work.

“He didn't get some calls early and I think he got frustrated a bit,” Moniteau coach Ross Martin said of McCorry.

The Warriors spent the rest of the game trying to cut into Karns City's lead. They got on the board when Dave Campbell's base hit plated Colton Cumberland, who had led off the third inning with a double.

But Sadowski, his team's No. 1 starter, would not give up the big inning the Warriors desperately needed.

He struck out eight and walked two while surrendering the three runs on seven hits.

“I can't say enough about Derek Sadowski,” said Collins. “He's all about precision, always hitting his spots.”

Sadowski did receive strong play behind him.

In the top of the fourth, KC third baseman Ethan Williams made a diving snag of a line drive off the bat of Joe Holfelder, who would have had extra bases if not for the defensive gem.

In the next inning, Moniteau had runners on first and third with no outs when Best fielded a groundball at shortstop and threw out Cumberland at home plate.

The Warriors wound up scoring one run in the inning on Heath Lominski's run-scoring groundout.

Aaron Shreve added an RBI groundout in the sixth, but the Warriors (9-8) managed no more offense after that.

Stockert pitched well in relief for the Warriors, allowing just two runs on four hits in his 4.1 innings.

“We improved since the start of the season and that's all you can ask for,” said Martin. “Obviously, we wanted to win here today, but we just got off to a bad start.”

Karns City (14-2) will face City League champ Langley in a PIAA Class AA preliminary round game next Thursday at a site and time to be determined.

Moniteau 001 011 0 — 3 7 3Karns City 141 001 x — 7 7 1

W: Derek Sadowski 7 IP (8K, 2BB).

L: Braydon McCorry 1X\c IP (1K, 5BB).

Moniteau (9-8): Kyle Armagost 1B R, Dave Campbell 1B RBI, Heath Lominski RBI, Josh Stockert 1B, Joe Holfelder 1B 3B R, Aaron Shreve 1B RBI, Colton Cumberland 2B R

Karns City (14-2): Brian Best 1B 2R RBI, Zach Barney 2-1B 2RBI, Zach Kepple 2-1B 3RBI, Derek Sadowski 1B, Brandyn Bowser R, Jerod Hutchison 2R, Ethan Williams 2B, Tyler Kepple 2R

Thursday: Karns City vs. Langley, PIAA Class AA Preliminary Playoff, time and site TBD