Simply Batty
KARNS CITY — In the first game of the season, Karns City's softball team tasted defeat with a loss to DuBois Central Catholic.
Since then, opponents have found staying with the Gremlins to be a major challenge.
KC won its 12th straight game, a 15-0 victory in three innings over visiting Clarion, Monday evening.
The Gremlins have failed to score double figures in just one of their 12 victories and are averaging over 12 runs per contest.
As impressive as the team has been at the plate, none of it has come as a surprise to the players.
“The way we were hitting in practice before the season, we knew we were going to be able to score a lot of runs,” said Garrah Milochik, a shortstop and the team's lone senior starter. “We just need to stay confident.”
It's difficult not to be confident with the Gremlins' bats consistently finding holes in opposing defenses. They're not just a bunch of singles, either. In just three innings Monday, KC tallied six extra-base hits, including solo home runs from Ashley Fox and Milochik to begin the bottom of the second and third, respectively.
Fox has hit five of KC's 14 home runs.
She recalls an offseason sparked by spirited workouts.
“We got our work in in the gym and weightroom every day,” Fox said. “When there were restrictions on the number of people in the weightroom, we'd go out in the hall.”
It was an effort expended with the belief it would pay off in the spring, which has arrived with a bang at Karns City. The Gremlins own a team batting average of .424.
“This is where we thought we'd be,” said KC coach Mike Stitt. “Our lineup is pretty set, except for the occasional switch ... and there's no weak spot.”
Marra Patton earned the pitching win against Clarion, striking out five and walking none. The only baserunner she allowed was Makenzie Aaron, who reached on an error in the third inning.
The offense has gained a lot of attention, but Stitt believes his pitching and defense makes his a complete team.
Three girls have started in the circle this season — Patton, Megan Whitmire and Ally Walker.
“They all bring something different,” Stitt said. “Marra brings power, Megan has a great drop pitch and Ally has a lot of spin. We want them all to be ready for the postseason.”
The District 9 playoffs begin later this month; beyond that is the PIAA tournament. Their success this season could make it easy for the Gremlins to be thinking about postseason glory.
But Stitt is guarding against it.
“We feel good about where we are, but we do not look past the next game,” he said. “It's one pitch, one out at a time.”
Clarion 000 xxx x — 0 0 3
Karns City 0(11)4 xxx x — 15 11 1
W: Marra Patton 3 IP (5K, 0BB). L: Payton Simko 1.2 IP (0K, 4BB)
Karns City (12-1): Garrah Milochik 2B HR 2R 2RBI, Jessica Dunn 1B 2B R RBI, Ashley Fox 1B HR 3R, Sarah Patton 2B R 2RBI, Megan Whitmire 1B 2B 2R RBI
Wednesday: Karns City at Moniteau
