The Karns City UAA 10u softyball all-stars recently won the Ingomar Tournament. Members of the team include, from left, front, Mackenzie Riesmeyer, Emma Plunkard, Lenox Trimbur and Lyncoln Hollobaugh; middle, Jaylee Dunlap, Carsyn Miles, Natalie Riesmeyer, Elisse Fleming, Jade Callihan, Emma Brown and Riley Michael; back, coaches Travis Trimbur, Willie Michael, Carrie Miles and Tyler Callihan. Aubrey Fox and Paisley Beham are other players on the team. Submitted Photo

KARNS CITY — Winning isn’t everything — but it sure meant a lot to some young Karns City softball players.

Karns City’s UAA 10u girls all-star softball team recently won the eight-team Ingomar Tournament in Wexford despite entering bracket play as the tourney’s No. 6 seed.

“This was the fifth and last tournament we played in this summer,” coach Carrie Miles said. “That was the best we’ve played all season. This is the first year Karns City ever put together a 10u all-star team. We never had enough kids before.”

Karns City’s 10u softball program only had 13 total players last summer. This year, that number ballooned to 22. The organization was able to put together two 10u teams for the regular season and chose 13 for the all-star team.

The tournament did not begin on a positive note for KC. The team lost both of its games in pool play, including a 13-4 decision to host Ingomar to begin the tourney. KC then lost a 5-3 rain-shortened decision to a team called Chaos.

“We were in that game before they called it,” Miles said. “We may have been able to come back and win that one.”

It didn’t matter. The team didn’t lose again.

Karns City began bracket play with a 10-8 victory over third-seeded Reserve. Aubrey Fox, who hit her first-ever home run over the fence, was named MVP of that game.

KC’s semifinal opponent was second-seeded Kennedy. Karns City rolled to an 11-2 triumph in that game as pitcher Jaylee Dunlap was named game MVP. Elisse Fleming pitched in that game as well.

The championship game pitted Karns City in a rematch with Chaos. The lead changed hands a few times before Karns City claimed an 8-5 win and the tournament championship. Dunlap, Fleming and Carsyn Miles piched for KC and Lyncoln Hollobaugh produced three RBI.

Other players on the team include Mackenzie Riesmyer, Emma Plunkard, Lenox Trimbur, Natalie Riesmeyer, Jade Callihan, Emma Brown, Riley Michael and Paisley Beham.

“That tournament means a ton to our program,” Coach Miles said. “Karns City just started a junior high softball team this past school year and there’s a lot of enthusiasm in the youth program now.

“We’re already getting calls from people looking to sign up for next year. I expect our numbers will be on the rise again.”