Hobie Bartoe hit it, Jacob Jones pitched it ... and Karns City won it.

Bartoe went 4-for-4 from his lead-off position in the batting order and sophomore right-hander Jones struck out nine in 5.1 innings Tuesday as the Gremlins defeated Coudersport, 10-5, in a District 9 2A baseball quarterfinal at Michelle Krill Field at Historic Pullman Park.

“This game was not too big for Jacob,” KC coach Josh Smith said of Jones’ mound performance. “He’s a sophomore, but he looks like a seasoned veteran out there. Nothing rattles him.

“And Hobie, what can you say about his performance? This is the best I’ve ever seen him play.”

Karns City (14-6) banged out 15 hits as a team, easily overcoming an early 1-0 deficit by putting up a four-spot in the bottom of the first inning. Bartoe lined the first pitch he saw into left field for a single. Jones singled to right and Mallick Metcalfe grounded into a force play, Bartoe scoring on an errant relay throw.

Jacob Callihan added a two-out, two-run double later in the frame. He wound up scoring on an infield error.

“We know we can hit the ball,” Jones said. “Getting that lead so soon like that was a big part of this game.”

Smith agreed.

“We took the momentum right away from them, knocked their starting pitcher out after an inning,” the coach said. “When you’re playing seven innings, you don’t want to allow a team to build momentum.”

Bartoe entered the game hitting ,.300 for the season. He was in the middle of all four of the innings Karns City scored runs. He tallied a double, three singles, scored three runs and drove in two. He stole a base as well.

And he took very few pitches on the day.

“Coach is always telling us to attack first-pitch fastballs,” Bartoe said. “I did that today and it worked out for me. Yeah, this was definitely my best game.”

Metcalfe and Michael Neff had RBI singles during a three-run Gremlin second inning as Karns City poured it on early, leading 7-1 after two frames. The lead was 10-2 before Coudersport (11-8) scored three times in the seventh inning.

Jones was removed on pitch count, throwing 102 pitches in the contest. He walked three and surrendered five hits. Mason Sherwin relieved him in the sixth and escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam without any damage.

“I had to rely on my fastball today,” Jones said. “My curveball wasn’t working really well. All I wanted to do was throw strikes and get ahead of the hitters.”

Karns City’s first four hitters in the batting order — Bartoe, Jones, Metcalfe and Neff — combined for 10 hits in 15 at-bats, seven runs and five RBI.

“That’s the best four hitters on our team,” Bartoe said.

“It all started with Hobie,” Smith said. “When your lead-off guy is getting on base every time, good things are gonna happen.”

Gavyn Ayer pitched the final five innings for Coudersport. Mason Roessner threw 22 pitches in the first frame for the Falcons.

Ayer had a double, single and two RBI to lead the Falcons offensively. Coudersport coach Doug McClintic could not be reached for comment after the game.

Karns City will play Port Allegany in a District 9 2A semifinal game Thursday at a site and time to be determined.

Coudersport 101 000 3 — 5 8 3

Karns City 431 020 x — 10 15 0

WP: Jacob Jones 5.1IP (9so, 3bb). LP: Mason Roessner 1IP (1so, 0bb)

Coudersport (11-8): Mitch Taylor 1B, Wyatt Daisley 1B RBI, Mason Roessner 1B RBI, Gavyn Ayer 1B 2B 2-RBI, Jacob Hooftallen 1B RBI, Dan VanVladricken 1B, LT Myers 1B 2-R.

Karns City (14-6): Hobie Bartoe 2B 3-1B 2-RBI 3-R, Jacob Jones 2-1B RBI, Mallick Metcalfe 2-1B RBI 2-R, Michael Neff 2-1B RBI 2-R, Braden Grossman 1B, Jacob Callihan 2B 1B 2-RBI, Troy Nagel 1B, Mason Sherwin 1B.

Thursday: Karns City vs. Port Allegany, site and time TBA