NEW BETHLEHEM — Karns City was already on the ropes, but it was Redbank Valley’s Morgan Toth who delivered the knockout blow.

With her team leading the Gremlins 6-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning of Thursday’s District 9 Class AA softball semifinal, Toth came to the plate with the bases full of Bulldogs.

The junior outfielder hit a ball deep to left field, where Karns City’s Taylor Downs sprinted back and to her left. She fully extended in an attempt to make a play on the ball, which glanced off her glove and landed on the other side of the fence for a grand slam. It was the last offensive output by either team as KC’s season came to an end with a 10-2 loss.

The three baserunners who scored ahead of Toth — Kate Brothers, Emma Kennemuth and Hailey Rearick — reached base in various ways.

Brothers’ one-out infield single plated Alex Bell for a 6-2 lead. Kennemuth walked and Rearick reached base on a fielder’s choice, one in which the Gremlins were unable to record an out due to an error.

Redbank coach John Sayers pulled Toth aside before her at-bat.

“They (Gremlins) had just committed that error to load the bases and I said to Morgan, ‘Make this hurt.’”

The error was Karns City’s third and final one of the game.

“We’re a very young team,” said KC coach Jim Gibson. “I think nerves got to the girls a bit today.”

Redbank totaled 13 hits in the contest.

“We didn’t do well offensively in the playoffs last year,” said Sayers. “We focused on getting better in the offseason.”

Even before the Bulldogs’ six-run fourth inning, senior pitcher Lyndsey Jones had quieted KC’s bats.

She allowed a run in each of the first two innings, but kept the Gremlins off the scoreboard in the third and fourth. Jones ended the game with five hits allowed while striking out two and walking one.

“This was the third time this year that we faced her and I was hoping for a better performance from us offensively,” said Gibson. “We put the ball in play, but we didn’t get the extra-base hits that we are used to.”

KC’s LeeAnn Gibson shouldered the loss, striking out four and walking five in six innings.

She helped give herself an early lead when, in the top of the first, she walked and moved to second base on Taylor Ritzert’s sacrifice bunt. Gibson scored on Ashley Coon’s base hit.

With Redbank leading 2-1 in the top of the second, Karns City (12-5) scored its second run when Jensen Bachman’s double plated Taylor Downs. It would be the final tally for the Gremlins.

“It had been a while since she (Jones) had pitched in a game,” said Sayers. “She didn’t have her best game today, but she settled down.”

The Bulldogs (18-2) took the lead for good with two runs in their half of the second. Kimberly Shick was singled home by Brothers and Bell scored on a fielding error.

Despite the defeat, Gibson is optimistic about the future of KC’s program. The varsity team included no seniors this season.

“This loss does not put a damper on our season,” he said. “A lot of the girls will be on traveling teams this summer. We’re looking to be even better next year.”

Karns City 110 000 0 — 2 5 3Redbank Valley 220 600 x — 10 13 2W: Lyndsey Jones 7 IP (2K, 1BB). L: LeeAnn Gibson 6 IP (4K, 5BB).Karns City (12-5): LeeAnn Gibson R, Ashley Coon 1B RBI, Taylor Downs 1B 2B R, Jordan Downs 1B, Jensen Bachman 2B RBIRedbank Valley (18-2): Alex Bell 2B 3R, Kate Brothers 2-1B 2R 2RBI, Emma Kennemuth R RBI, Hailey Rearick R, Morgan Toth 2-1B HR 5RBI, Darian Gruver 1B, Alaina Kunselman 2-1B, Lyndsey Jones 2-1B, Tessa Troup 1B 2B, Kimberly Shick 2R