Derek Sadowski is back to ace form, and that's bad news for the rest of the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference baseball teams.

It certainly was bad news for Cranberry Thursday at Pullman Park.

The Karns City right-hander struck out seven, didn't walk a batter and scattered six hits over seven strong innings to lead the Gremlins to a 7-1 win over the Berries.

Sadowski was charged with the task of anchoring the Karns City pitching staff. But it didn't turn out that way — until now.

The sophomore had arm issues early in the season and Gremlins coach Travis Twentier pulled back on the reins, pitching Sadowski only an inning here and an inning there.

"We never let him get over 50 pitches," Twentier said. "We just held him back."

Two weeks ago, Twentier let his ace loose. Sadowski tossed five solid innings against North Clarion for the first indication he was getting back to top form.

Against Cranberry Thursday, he finally arrived, completing his first game of the season.

"He threw a couple of innings the other day, and he threw hard. And you could tell he was back to feeling good," Twentier said.

Sadowski got plenty of run support, as Karns City scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the first inning and tacked on two more runs — one earned — in the third for a 4-0 lead.

On a day when Sadowski was sharp and working three pitches up and down in the strike zone, those runs were plenty to work with.

Brian Best went 3-for-4 with a triple and two RBI, and Eric McCue had a triple for the Gremlins (5-5, 3-4).

Karns City recorded 10 hits despite its two leading batters, Brad Fuhrer and Zach Kepple, going hitless.

Cranberry right-hander Adam Vernam pitched well in the loss, working five innings and surrendering six runs, but only three were earned.

Cranberry (1-7, 1-7) committed four errors behind Vernam.

"That's been our problem this year," said Cranberry coach Patrick Irwin. "I thought Adam pitched a very good game."

With its ace back at full strength, Karns City is thinking big down the stretch. The Gremlins have seven KSAC games in the next two weeks.

"Being .500 isn't necessarily where we want to be, but it gives us an opportunity to finish strong and end up where we want to be," Twentier said.

Cranberry 000 010 0 — 1 6 4Karns City 202 021 x — 7 10 1W: Derek Sadowski 7 IP (7 K, 0 BB).

L: Adam Vernam 5 IP (5 K, 2 BB).

Cranberry (1-7, 1-7): Eric Beichner 2-1B; Dave Cyphert 2B, 1B; Zack Borland 2-1B, RBI

Karns City (5-5, 3-4): Eric McCue 3B; Brian Best 2-1B, 3B; Zach Barney 2-1B; Brad Francis 2-1B, 2-RBI; Tyler Slagle 2B

Today: Karns City at A-C Valley