Dawson Cook limits Karns City in Moniteau baseball win
BUTLER TWP — Dawson Cook wasn’t operating on high heat Thursday night.
But the Moniteau senior right-hander’s slow burn proved plenty effective in the Warriors’ 8-2 District 9 baseball victory over rival Karns City at Pullman Park.
Cook struck out eight and allowed only three singles through six innings, throwing 95 pitches. KC (4-4) entered the game averaging eight runs per game with five batters hitting above .315.
“My curve ball was my best pitch tonight,” Cook said. “I spiked it when I had to and got some awkward swings out of it. My fastball was good, too. Everything was working.”
Cook has an earned run average of 1.35 through 16 innings pitched this spring, allowing only eight hits and striking out 22.
The Warriors (3-3) took a 7-0 lead in the first two innings and coasted from there. Cook had two singles and two RBIs during that early uprising. James Gillen had a two-run single and Kayne Scott produced a run-scoring double.
Three of Moniteau’s seven runs were unearned, aided by a dropped fly ball in right field.
“Dawson’s curve was really good,” Moniteau coach Garrick Lapusnak said. “He had their hitters off-balance most of the night.
“We took advantage of their fielding mistake. Errors and walks come back to haunt you in baseball.”
Karns City nipped Cook for a pair of runs in the third inning. After two walks and a hit batsman loaded the bases, Brock Dittman delivered a two-run single fo center. It was the Gremlins’ first hit of the game.
“That was a tough situation to deal with,” Cook said of the third-inning jam. “But I’m a senior and I’ve been there before. I just had to battle through it.
“I trust my defense, too. If we get all 21 outs in the field, I’m fine with that. I know those guys are gonna make the plays.”
Karns City had one other scoring threat, a Brody Zediker single and Colton Christie walk leading off the fifth inning. But Joey O’Donnell popped out to shortstop and Dittman drilled a hard grounder to third baseman Scott, who stepped on the bag and fired to first to complete an inning-ending double play.
Scott pitched a perfect seventh inning to close out the win for the Warriors.
Gillen and No. 9 hitter Kam Hershey had two singles each for Moniteau. Carson Minnear doubled to aid the Warriors’ 10-hit attack.
Karns City graduated six starters from last season.
“We’re gonna go through some growing pains this year,” KC coach Josh “Sluggo” Smith said. “But we’ll keep battling. Other than those first two innings, we fought well in this game.
“Fall behind by seven against Cook and that’s tough to bounce back from no matter who’s in your lineup. Dawson is one of the best pitchers in our league.”
Cook expressed admiration for Karns City’s baseball program.
“I’ve played them for four years and Karns City always hits the crap out of the ball,” he said. “I’m going to miss the challenge of playing them, honestly. To have this kind of game against them means a lot.”
Moniteau 340 100 0 - 8 10 0
Karns City 002 000 0 - 2 3 2
WP: Dawson Cook 6IP (8so, 3bb). LP: Joey O’Donnell 3IP (1so, 4bb).
Moniteau (3-3): Carson Minnear 2B 2-R, Dawson Cook 2-1B 2-RBIs 2-R, Weston Cook 1B 2-R, James Gillen 2-1B 2-RBIs, Kayne Scott 2B RBI, Brennan Kelly 1B RBI, Kam Hershey 2-1B.
Karns City (4-4): Brock Dittman 1B 2-RBIs, Camden Slater 1B, Brody Zediker 1B.
Saturday: Keystone at Karns City, noon
Monday: Clarion vs, Moniteau at Critchfield Park
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Moniteau defeated Karns City 8-2 in a baseball game Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau defeated Karns City 8-2 in a baseball game Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau defeated Karns City 8-2 in a baseball game Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau defeated Karns City 8-2 in a baseball game Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau defeated Karns City 8-2 in a baseball game Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau defeated Karns City 8-2 in a baseball game Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau defeated Karns City 8-2 in a baseball game Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau defeated Karns City 8-2 in a baseball game Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau’s Dawson Cook (4) celebrates as his teammate scores a run against Karns City in a baseball game Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau’s Dawson Cook (4) celebrates as his teammate scores a run against Karns City in a baseball game Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau defeated Karns City 8-2 in a baseball game Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau defeated Karns City 8-2 in a baseball game Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau defeated Karns City 8-2 in a baseball game Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau’s Dawson Cook (4) slides into home plate during a baseball game against Karns City on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau defeated Karns City 8-2 in a baseball game Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau defeated Karns City 8-2 in a baseball game Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau defeated Karns City 8-2 in a baseball game Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau defeated Karns City 8-2 in a baseball game Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau defeated Karns City 8-2 in a baseball game Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau defeated Karns City 8-2 in a baseball game Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau defeated Karns City 8-2 in a baseball game Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau defeated Karns City 8-2 in a baseball game Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City’s Joey O'Donnell (12) slides into third base during a baseball game against Moniteau on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau defeated Karns City 8-2 in a baseball game Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City’s first baseman Brody Zediker (13) catches a foul ball against Moniteau on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau first baseman Kam Hershey (21) catches a pickoff throw against Moniteau on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City’s Brock Dittman (24) pitches against Moniteau on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City’s Brock Dittman (24) pitches against Moniteau on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau defeated Karns City 8-2 in a baseball game Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Pullman Park. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
