CHERRY TWP — Karns City's girls don't think about pizza.

They do think about pizza boxes — at least when they're at the plate.

“The strike zone is about the same size as a large pizza box,” Gremlins softball coach Mike Stitt said. “We preach that point to our girls all the time.

“Think of a pizza box when you're standing up there. It's an effective way to read the strike zone.”

Apparently, that theory works.

Karns City continued its torrid hitting display Wednesday at Moniteau, collecting 15 hits in a 19-0, three-inning win over the Warriors. The win was the 13th in a row for KC (13-1) since a season-opening loss.

By the second inning, every player in Karns City's lineup had at least one hit and one run scored. Eight different players had at least one RBI in the first two frames.

“In my five years here, we've never had a lineup from 1 through 10 that can hit the ball as consistently as these girls can,” Stitt said. “We have another six or seven girls behind them ready to step in and do the same thing.

“They don't give away at-bats. We're showing great discipline and we're only swinging at strikes.”

The Gremlins scored 18 of their 19 runs after two were out, including all eight in the first inning and all nine in the second.

Karns City scored nine runs in the second inning after two were out with no one on base.

“These girls just keep going. They never give up,” Stitt said.

A dropped fly ball in center field by Moniteau resulted in all eight first-inning runs scored against pitcher Courtney Stewart being unearned.

“Everything we normally do, we didn't do today,” Moniteau coach Bob Rottman said. “We left pitches hanging in the middle of the zone. We made fielding mistakes. We didn't put the ball in play enough.

“We told our girls it's only one softball game. We play 20 games. That's the beauty of this sport. We have to wear this one, take it on the chin, but we'll be ready to go at Redbank Valley tomorrow (Thursday).”

KC pitcher Marra Patton allowed two-out doubles to Rylee Hoffman and Taylor Shultz in the second and third innings, respectively. She struck out three in tossing the abbreviated shutout.

Gremlin leadoff batter Zoe King tripled, doubled and singled, scored four runs and knocked in three. No. 9 hitter Ally Walker had a pair of singles and four RBI.“It's fun playing for this team,” King said. “We take things one pitch at a time. Anybody could hit anywhere in our lineup.“We never worry about what the score is when we go up to bat. It's all about quality at-bats for us. One hitter follows the next. That's we can score so much with two outs.”Garrah Milochik had three RBI and Rossi McMillen scored three runs for Karns City.“They have a good team, but we didn't get to some balls today I thought we could have gotten to,” Rottman said. “We didn't play well.”Moniteau fell to 9-4 with the loss, 5-2 in league play. KC is unbeaten in league play.“Moniteau has a good team,” Stitt said. “We just got off to a good start and made it work for us.”Both teams have a few games left on their respective schedules. Moniteau travels to Redbank Valley Thursday while Karns City heads to Clarion-Limestone Friday.Karns City 892 xxx x — 19 15 0Moniteau 000 xxx x — 0 2 3W: Marra Patton 3IP (3K, 0BB). L: Courtney Stewart 1.2IP (2K, 2BB)Karns City (13-1): Zoe King 1B 2B 3B 3-RBI 4-R, Garrah Milochik 2B 1B 3-RBI 2-R, Jess Dunn 1B RBI, Ashley Fox 1B RBI, Marra Patton 1B 2-RBI 2-R, Sarah Patton 1B 2-R, Megan Whitmire 2-1B RBI 2-R, Rossi McMillen 2-!B RBI 3-R, Ally Walkerr 2-1B 4-RBI 2-RMoniteau (9-4): Rylee Hoffman 2B, Taylor Shultz 2BThursday: Moniteau at Redbank ValleyFriday: Karns City at Clarion-Limestone

Zoe King