CHERRY TWP — Moniteau's varsity softball team is a well-oiled, finely constructed machine.

Occasionally, it needs a jump-start.

Junior shortstop Cortney Claypoole provided one Wednesday. She drilled a two-run homer to begin the six-run fifth inning that ended the Warriors' 10-0 District 9 Class AA playoff win over Redbank Valley.

“I just saw a pitch I liked and I hit it,” Claypoole said. “I had a feeling that would get us going. I knew everybody was going to follow up with hits behind me.”

Moniteau (20-1) has shut out its last seven opponents while scoring 86 runs itself in those games. The Warriors blanked Redbank Valley (10-8) by scores of 14-0 and 10-0 in the regular season, no-hitting the Bulldogs both times.

Winning pitcher Kennedy DeMatteis has allowed just two total hits in Moniteau's last six games. She flipped a one-hitter Wednesday, striking out eight.

Still, Warrior coach Dan Beebe admitted to a bit of uneasiness through the early innings of this game.

“We weren't hitting all that well, we were playing a familiar league rival and this is the playoffs now, win or go home,” he said.

Moniteau took a 4-0 lead into the bottom of the fifth. DeMatteis had allowed only two baserunners — a one-out walk to Kaia Rearick in the first inning and a two-out single to center by Maycee Shumaker in the fifth.

“Our bats weren't going, but we were starting to make decent contact at the plate,” Bulldogs coach John Sayers said. “We were still in the game.”

No comeback was coming on this day, however. Even a comeback opportunity was denied.

Gabby Stewart led off the Warrior fifth with a walk. Claypoole followed with her sixth home run of the season. DeMatteis beat out an infield hit. With one out, Sara Hull was hit by a pitch and Megan Hepler doubled home two runs.

With two outs, Alyssa Dailey singled to left, plating pinch-runner Madison Cumberland to make the score 9-0. Dailey stole second, but Alazia Greaves struck out to apparently end the inning. The pitch eluded the catcher, however, allowing Greaves to reach first base.

Stewart blooped a single to left to end the game via the mercy rule.

“We have speed at the top and bottom of the lineup, power in the middle,” Beebe said. “We can play small ball or we can hit balls into the gaps.

“We like to be versatile that way because you never know what type of opponent you'll be facing on a given day.”

Moniteau entered the day with a .497 team batting average. The Warriors have five starters hitting above .500.

“Sometimes we get off to slow starts, but we know we're going to hit eventually,” Claypoole said. “All of us on this team, we practice hitting constantly.”

DeMatteis wasn't concerned when she nearly walked the leadoff batter of the game, then did issue a walk. She struck out the side in the first frame and tallied seven strikeouts in the first three innings.

“I usually struggle in the first inning,” DeMatteis said. “I guess I don't warm up enough. I usually find it in the second inning.'

Redbank Valley played without a pair of senior starters as the school's graduation ceremonies were Wednesday.

“We were forced to play today,” Sayers said. “We've been playing better ball lately. We just need to find a way to score some runs.”

Stewart had three singles and three runs scored to pace Moniteau's 11-hit attack. Claypoole and Dailey scored two runs each and Claypoole had three RBI.

“The first five hitters in our lineup are first team all-conference players,” Beebe said. “That helps.”

Redbank Valley 000 00x x — 0 1 1

Moniteau 103 06x x — 10 11 0

W: Kennedy DeMatteis 5IP (8K, 1BB). L: Alyssa Burkett 4.2IP (6K, 1BB).

Redbank Valley (10-8): Maycee Shumaker 1B

Moniteau (20-1): Gabby Stewart 3-1B 3-R 2-RBI, Cortney Claypoole HR 1B 3-RBI 2-R, Kennedy DeMatteis 1B RBI, Kristina DeMatteis 1B RBI, Megan Hepler 2B 2-RBI, Courtney Sowinski 1B, Alyssa Dailey 2-1B 2-R RBI

Next: District 9 Class AA championship-Moniteau vs. Cranberry, site and time TBA