WEXFORD — Knoch softball coach Chris Gardner figured he knew what his team was running into.

And he was right.

“We ran into a buzz-saw today,” Gardner said. “That is one great team.”

Knoch saw its season come to an end Wednesday evening with a 10-0, five-inning WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinal loss to Chartiers Valley at North Allegheny.

The Colts (17-2) won for the 16th time in 17 games. The Knights ended their season at 11-9.

“I’m proud of these girls,” Gardner said. “We’re a young team. We’ve started four freshmen pretty much all season. Chartiers Valley went to the 5A semifinals last year. Their smallest girl is probably bigger than our biggest.

“Our team is going to be good for a long time. We’ll be back.”

Chartiers Valley averages 11 runs per game this season and has now scored 49 total runs in its last five games. The Colts banged out 12 hits in four innings Wednesday, six of them coming during a six-run second inning that broke the game open.

“Our girls have been hitting the ball consistently well all spring,” Chartiers Valley coach Chris Lloyd said. “They know how to string hits together and produce big innings like that.”

No. 3 hitter Marta Gualazzi drilled a run-scoring triple off the right field fence in the first inning. She contributed a two-run single up the middle during the second frame. Lily Dufill, a freshman, followed that single with a two-run double off the center field fence.

Callie Mangan hit a solo homer to enter leading off the second. Dufill led off the fourth with a homer deep into the left field bleachers.

“Their girls can really hit the ball,” Gardner said. “Our freshman (Marlee Fraser) pitched her heart out and never quit. Their lineup is just that good.

“Our dugout was enthusiastic throughout the game,. It always is. Our team has come back from deficits before. They were never mentally down, not for a minute.”

The Knights had two hits. Brynne Smith led off the second inning with an infield single, but could not get into scoring position. Liz Danik led off the fourth with an infield hit. Smith grounded into a force play and moved to second on a wild pitch.

No. 9 hitter Lindsey Wise walked twice and got as far as second base. No Knoch runner got to third against winning pitcher Zoe Morgan. Carissa Tekely hit a fly ball to the warning track in right to begin the fifth.

“We have a lot of four-year players in our lineup who have been playing since Day 1,” Lloyd said. “We got to the (WPIAL) semifinals each of the past two years.

“We’re hoping this is the season we can break through.”

Knoch 000 00 — 0 2 1

Char Valley 260 2x — 10 12 0

WP: Zoe Morgan 5IP (1so, 2bb). LP: Marlee Fraser 3.1IP (4so, 3bb)

Knoch (11-9): Liz Danik 1B, Brynne Smith 1B.

Chartiers Valley (17-2): Madison Crump 2-1B, Rylee Prosperi 2B 1B 2-R, Marta Gualazzi 3B 1B 3-RBI 2-R, Lily Dufill 2B HR 3-RBI 23-R, Zoe Morgan 1B, Callie Mangan HR, Annabelle Helt 2-1B RBI.