Bulldog’s senior hurler Craig Hibell pitched a complete game three-hitter, struck out nine, allowed two unearned runs and walked three to earn the victory.

“He did a nice job,” said Smith. “He’s special.”

“I told the kids, ‘you know Hibell is going to throw strikes and we have to be aggressive,’” said Karns City coach Tom Stewart. “Once he starts using his curveball, he’s deadly.”

Hibell helped himself at the plate going a perfect 3-for-3 with a triple, a double, and a single with three RBI and a run scored.

For the game, Redbank Valley whacked out nine hits.

The Bulldogs grabbed an early lead when in the second inning Hibell led off the inning with a double and Andrew Colwell followed with a double to score Hibell.

However, Hibell’s run was the only that Redbank Valley would get in the inning as Karns City starter Cameron Turner notched three consecutive strikeouts to end the inning.

Turner picked up the loss by giving up four earned runs in four innings. Turner struck out five and issued no walks.

In the top of the third, the Bulldogs picked up another run when Dan Buzzard scored on a single by Hibell.

Andrew Colwell led off the fourth inning by blasting a solo home run over the left field fence to extend the Redbank Valley lead to 3-0.

Colwell was 2-for-3 with a home run and a double with two RBI and a run scored.

The Gremlins cut the Bulldog’s lead to two runs as center fielder Cody Williams drew a lead-off walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Josh Stimac. Saxon Parker grounded out to move Williams to third. Williams scored on a double-steal when Turner, who walked, stole second and Williams raced home.

Redbank Valley extended its lead back to three runs in the top of the fifth when Ryan Radaker got on first base on an error and scored two batters later when Hibell reached first on a two-out error.

In the bottom of the sixth, Karns City climbed back to within two runs when Parker made first on an error and scored three batters later when Joe King hit an infield single.

“Our defense made some bonehead plays behind (Hibell),” said Smith. “Our defense has to play better behind him.”

However, the Gremlins stranded men on second and third to end the inning leaving the score at 4-2. Karns City stranded runners in scoring position in the fifth and sixth inning.

The Bulldogs put the game away in the top of the seventh when Hibell smacked a two- RBI triple that scored Radaker and Buzzard. Hibell scored two batters later when Chris Clemens hit a sacrifice fly to right field.

“We knew ( Redbank Valley ) was good,” said Stewart. “We knew we were going to have to bring our ‘A’ game to beat them. They’re undefeated for a reason. They are a great coached team. We hung with them for six innings.”

The win keeps Redbank Valley undefeated at 14-0 overall and 11-0 in the KSAC.

“Each game, we play a little bit better,” said Smith. “We haven’t played the perfect game yet, but we’re getting closer.”