About six weeks ago, Levi Negley told Freeport baseball coach Chris Graczyk he was a capable pitcher.

Graczyk was skeptical, but gave him a shot.

Negley provided the proof on Saturday by pitching all seven innings to pace Freeport’s 4-3 non-section win over Knoch in the first game of a doubleheader at Pullman Park. Karns City followed with a 14-3 drubbing of Keystone.

Negley scattered seven hits, six walks and struck out three during the victory.

“He proved me wrong,” said Graczyk of Negley. “I’m happy with that. He pitched really well today.

“He was just keeping the ball down, mixing up his pitches and changing his speeds,” he added. “He wasn’t blowing it past them, but he didn’t have to do that. We played good defense behind him.”

Knoch (1-3) hit Negley early for two runs in the second, keyed by a two-out, two-RBI single from Chase Voltz.

Freeport’s Robbie Miller countered Voltz’s clutch hitting with his own two-out, two-RBI single with the bases loaded in the bottom of the second. The Yellowjackets got on the board when the previous batter, Dustin Koedel, was plunked with the bases juiced.

Freeport (2-1) upped its advantage to 4-2 in the bottom of the fifth. Negley — who fanned, but reached base after strike three was mishandled — scored on a single by Damon Smith.

Knoch threatened the next half inning with runners at first and third and no outs, but Negley induced a 6-4-3 double play — sparked on a tough stop by Miller at shortstop — and limited the Knights to just one run in the frame.

In its last at-bat, Knoch had runners at first and second with two outs and pinch-hitter Cole Shinsky hit a grounder to third. Beale scooped it up and tried to beat a sprinting Voltz to the bag, but he seemed to reach third safely. However, it appeared Voltz came off the base during the slide and Beale was there to supply the tag and end the game.

“We walked some guys, got some guys on base and (Freeport) came through. We just didn’t quite do that, but that’s baseball ... it happens,” said Knoch coach George Bradley. “Sometimes, a defeat is not fatal. ... It only becomes permanent if you give up and this team isn’t going to give up.”

Karns City 14, Keystone 3 — Playing in his first full game since suffering a high-ankle sprain, it didn’t take long for Karns City’s Nick Ganter to shake off the rust.

After falling behind in the count 0-2 during his first at-bat, Ganter ripped a triple in the right-center gap to score the Gremlins’ initial run on Saturday. Ganter proceeded to single and double twice during a 4-for-4 performance with five RBI and three runs.

“It’s good to have him back,” said Karns City coach Randy Collins. “He’s contacting the ball well.”

The Gremlins (3-0) built a 4-0 lead after the first inning and pushed it to 11-0 through three. Every player in the Karns City lineup contributed at least one hit, run or RBI.

Keystone (0-2) scored three runs in the top of the fifth, but Karns City left fielder Zach Moore helped extinguish the rally with a highlight-worthy catch.

Matt Hurst rifled a pitch deep to left field, but Moore managed to get a beat on it, dive backwards and make a backhanded snag just short of the warning track.

“When he first hit it, I thought it was over the fence,” said Collins. “It had enough air under it for him to get back there and make an amazing catch. It was awesome.”

Hurst arrived at second base thinking he had a double and hesitated going back to the dugout, in disbelief.

“ESPN would have been all over that,” said Keystone coach Chad Bell. “It was a beautiful catch. (Hurst) went out to him and shook his hand, too. We try to teach that kind of sportsmanship.

Knoch 020 001 0 — 3 7 2

Freeport 030 010 x — 4 4 1

W: Levi Negley 7 IP (3K, 6BB). L: Gavin Miller 1 2-3 IP (3K, 3BB).

Knoch (1-3): Chase Voltz 1B, 2-RBI; Andy Fritz 1B; Caleb Thorn 2-1B, R; Ty Smith 3B; Taylor Sharer R; Zach Junk 1B, R; Chris Law 1B

Freeport (2-1): Dustin Koedel RBI; Robbie Miller 2-1B, 2-RBI; Levi Negley R; Matt Swartz 1B; Damon Smith 1B; Luke Mariotti 1B, R; Josh Beale R; Nate Pastorek R

Today: West Shamokin at Freeport; Knoch at Highlands

Keystone 000 03x x — 3 6 2

Karns City 416 3xx x — 14 12 0

W: Matt Yough 4 1-3 IP (5K, 1BB). L: Logan Corvino 2 1-3 IP (4K, 4BB).

Keystone (0-2): Jordan Weeter 1B, R; Matt Black 2-1B, R; Logan Corvino 3B, 1B, 2-RBI; Matt Hurst RBI; Chad Rogers 1B

Karns City (3-0): Tyler Kepple 2-R; Wyatt Everetts 2-1B, 3-R; Nick Ganter 3B, 2-2B, 1B, 3-R, 5-RBI; Matt Yough 2B, 2-1B, 2-RBI; Nathan Weckerly 2-R; Mike Riley 3B, RBI; Tyler Dunn 2-R; Zach Moore 1B, RBI; Dan Filges RBI; Holden Martin 1B, R; Evan Stitt R

Tuesday: Karns City at Venango Catholic