Hammerle threw all seven innings, finishing the game with 95 pitches. He allowed just three hits and three walks, while striking out nine batters.

“He threw one heck of a game, there is no doubt in my mind,” said Glendale assistant coach Ryan Cornelius. “There is a bunch of talent between him and Kitko. It’s always a big duel and fight because of the rivalry between Moshannon Valley and Glendale.

“You are going to see your best baseball. I’m just glad the kids battled hard.”

Hammerle sat the first Knight batters down in order, before Kitko needed just 10 pitches to get out of the bottom half of the first.

Moshannon Valley put runners on second and third in the top of the second with no outs thanks to a walk to Alex Kitko and a single by Michael Kitko.

But Hammerle struck out the next three batters to end the threat.

The Vikings loaded the bases with one out against Kitko in the bottom of the frame, before Kitko struck out another batter for the second out.

He had Glendale leadoff hitter Cory Johnston on a 3-2 count, but the ball was low, bringing home Garret Misiura for the game’s first run.

“Cory went to the one spot with Josh (Potutschnig) being out this week,” Cornelius said. “He stepped up big. He had a really good at bat. He battled the pitcher and for our sake he won the battle.”

Kitko struck out the next batter he faced to end the inning, but threw a total of 36 pitches in the frame.

Moshannon Valley put a runner on third in the top of the fourth with one out, after Alex Kitko reached on a fielder’s choice and moved to third on two wild pitches.

But once again Hammerle buckled down, getting a ground out to first and a force out at second to end the inning.

“With Austin coming out here, the guys really helped out defensively,” said Cornelius. “The other team helped out too by hitting away. Austin threw some good solid strikes.”

Glendale had a chance to add an insurance run in the bottom of the fourth, as Jacob Jasper singled with two outs, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch.

But Kitko got a comebacker to end the threat, keeping the game at 1-0 after four.

“It was just like the last time,” Hawkins said of the pitchers dominating the game. “They sort of gave us one at our home field.

“Today, Alex had one bad inning. I’m not taking anything away from Hammerle, because he threw well against us tonight. He closed the door on us tonight. He didn’t do that at our place.”

Moshannon Valley had one more shot at Glendale in the top of the seventh, as Jon Dale reached on a two-out single. He moved to third on an error by Hammerle, who tried to pick him off first.

But Hammerle got Jacob Matchock to ground out to second to end it and set the final at 1-0.

Ben Kasaback, Misiura and Jasper had the Vikings’ lone hits.

Dale, Kephart and Michael Kitko had the Knights’ three hits.

“Alex had that one rough inning, but that was it,” Hawkins said. “We missed a couple of signs that we shouldn’t have missed that might have put us in a better position.

“We left six runners on and a couple of those times we had signs on to make things happen on the bases and some of our older kids missed the signs.

“But we will go back to the drawing board and keep working.”

Moshannon Valley dropped to 4-4 overall, 4-4 in the Inter-County Conference and 2-1 in the Moshannon Valley League. The Knights travel to Juniata Valley on Thursday.

Glendale improved to 3-6 overall, 3-5 in the ICC and 2-2 in the MVL. The Vikings travel to Mount Union on Thursday.

Moshannon Valley—0

Matchock ss 4000, DeLattre lf 2000, Kephart 3b 3010, A. Kitko p 2000, M. Kitko c 2010, Bacher rf 2000, Beers 1b 3000, Hansel 2b 2000, Webb ph 1000, Dale cf 3010. Totals: 24-0-3-0.

Glendale—1

Johnston 3b 1001, Westover ss 3000, Hammerle p 3000, Kasaback c 3010, Blake 2000, Misiura 2b 1110, Cavalet lf 2000, Lo. Smeal rf 2000, Ja. Jasper cf 3010. Totals: 20-1-3-1.

Score by Innings

Mo Valley 000 000 0—0 3 0

Glendale 010 000 0—1 3 2

Errors—Hammerle 2. LOB—Moshannon Valley 6, Glendale, 9. SB—Blake, Ja. Jasper. M. Kitko. CS—Misiura (by M. Kitko). HBP—M. Kitko (by Hammerle). WP—Hammerle 3. A. Kitko 1.

Pitching

Moshannon Valley: A. Kitko—6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 7 BB, 10 SO.

Glendale: Hammerle—7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 9 SO.

WP—Hammerle (1-2). LP—A. Kitko (1-1).