STRATTANVILLE — The first one or the sixth one, it's all the same to the Moniteau softball team.

“I always say my favorite trophy is the next one,” said Moniteau coach Dan Beebe. “It never gets old. You love them all.”

The Warriors claimed their sixth District 9 Class AA championship and third in a row with a 4-0 win over Cranberry Wednesday at Clarion-Limestone.

And this one came in large part thanks to the right arm of junior Kennedy DeMatteis, who gave up just two hits and struck out 14 to get the win.

DeMatteis, the District 9 MVP, has been dominant — well, more dominant than usual — down the stretch and she handcuffed the Berries with a scorching fastball on a scorching-hot day.

“She's just in the zone right now,” Beebe said. “She doesn't get rattled. She has the same emotion no matter what happens. She's been a horse for us all season and the last three years.”

And her teammates shudder when they imagine an alternate universe where they would have to face her.

She doesn't pitch against the Moniteau lineup in practice and junior Cortney Claypoole is thankful for that.

“She has a variety of pitches and every single pitch and every single moment she brings it,” Claypoole said.

“I honestly can't say enough about how grateful we are to have Kennedy pitching for us,” Claypoole added. “And how proud of her I am.”

Another pitcher was dominating, too.

That was Cranberry pitcher Natalie Barcinas, who stifled the potent Moniteau offense for the first two innings, striking out three and not allowing a hit.

But in the third inning, the sophomore yielded to her older sister, senior Sarah Barcinas.

Moniteau was able to get to her for three runs on four hits, the big blow coming on a two-run single by Megan Hepler, who is often the forgotten slugger in the deep Warrior lineup.

“She's kind of an unsung hero on this team,” Beebe said. “She's been a great No. 6 batter on this team, especially with the top five batters. She's there to cash in on what they can do.”

Hepler, who struck out in her first at-bat, said she was relieved to see a new pitcher in the circle for her next at-bat.

“I was hoping I would get a fresh start,” Hepler said. “It felt so good to come through like that with the big hit in the big game.”

After the three-run outburst, Cranberry coach Shawn Bean put Natalie Barcinas back into the circle and the sophomore picked up where she left off. She gave up just one unearned run and two hits over the next three innings..

Bean was unavailable for comment.

Beebe said all season teams have tried unique strategies against the Warriors.

“It's not the first time someone has tried to reinvent the game against us,” Beebe said.

Moniteau is hoping to reinvent its state playoff fate.

The Warriors will play a familiar nemesis, District 5 champion Everett, in the first round of the PIAA Class AA playoffs at 3:30 p.m. Monday at Clarion-Limestone.

Everett beat Moniteau in extra innings last season in the PIAA's first round.

Moniteau, though, has a different swagger about it this season.

The Warriors (21-1) have already set the school record for wins in a season and are looking to add several more.

“Oh my gosh, we are so hungry,” Claypoole said. “We have unfinished business. We all think this is the year we can do it.”

Cranberry 000 000 0 — 0 2 5

Moniteau 003 010 x — 4 6 0

W: Kennedy DeMatteis 7IP (14K, 0BB). L: Sarah Barcinas 1IP (0K, 0BB).

Cranberry: Rachael McCauley 1B, Jenna Huegel 1B

Moniteau: Gabby Stewart 1B, Cortney Claypool 1B, Kennedy DeMatteis 1B RBI, Kristina DeMatteis 1B, Megan Hepler 1B 2-RBI, Alyssa Dailey 1B

Monday: Moniteau vs. District 5 runner-up in the first round of the PIAA Class AA playoffs at Clarion-Limestone, 3:30 p.m.