STRATTANVILLE — Cortney Claypoole didn't want to hear it.

“Alyssa (Dailey) said, 'You know, there were only two innings left last year when they got on us,'” Claypoole said, laughing. “I said, 'Shut up. Don't even talk about it.'”

There would be no wild comeback this year. There would be no letdown from the Moniteau softball team this season against Everett.

Claypoole saw to that.

Kennedy DeMatteis saw to that.

So did Kristina DeMatteis.

Moniteau reached its first PIAA quarterfinals emphatically with a dominating 6-0 win Monday over Everett in the first round of the PIAA Class AA playoffs at Clarion-Limestone.

Memories of squandering a 6-0 lead to Everett last season became just that.

A memory.

Kennedy DeMatteis was masterful, giving up one hit and striking out 13. She worked around five walks to toss another shutout — her 18th of the season.

Claypoole went 3-for-3 with an RBI and three runs scored and Kristina DeMatteis singled twice, doubled and drove in three to help Moniteau to its biggest win to date in program history.

The Warriors beat Langley in a PIAA play-in game in 2011, but lost in the first round to Burrell.

Moniteau had fallen in this round of the PIAA playoffs in each of the last two seasons, squandering leads both times.

Not this time.

“We folded under the pressure the last two years,” Kennedy DeMatteis said. “I think we were just finally ready to win. I just think we finally knew that we could. It feels really good to finally win.”

The outcome in this game was in little doubt from the start.

Claypoole set the tone in the first inning by scoring from second on an infield single by Kristina DeMatteis.

The speed and aggressiveness seemed to catch Everett off guard.

“That's our style. That's our game plan. We like to have chaos on the basepaths,” said Moniteau coach Dan Beebe. “We like to run high-octane. We like to go, go, go and put pressure on the defense.”

And Everett seemed to feel the pressure.

“We could tell they were down and we were up,” Claypoole said. “It was time to put it on them.”

Kennedy DeMatteis had a no-hitter through five innings before giving up a leadoff single to Hannah Laidig in the sixth.

The junior right-hander struck out the side in the seventh on three called third strikes to end the game.

DeMatteis had to adjust as she wasn't getting strikes called on the inside part of the plate.

“I didn't really want to throw inside anyway, but Kristina kept calling it,” Kennedy DeMatteis said, laughing. “I just starting pitching on the outside corner. It worked out pretty well.”

Beebe challenged this players in the days following the District 9 championship game win over Cranberry.

“We weren't really happy with the way we played against Cranberry and the way we prepared,” Beebe said. “We were 17 minutes late just getting on the bus. We were sluggish. We had a scrimmage against Punxsutawney and it was the same sort of thing.

“I really challenged the girls' pride and effort,” Beebe added. “I told them if they come out and play against Everett the way we played against our last two opponents, we'd be one-and-done again. They definitely showed up.”

Now Moniteau will face WPIAL champion Ellwood City (21-0) in the quarterfinals Thursday at a site and time to be determined.

The time may be early afternoon because Thursday is also Moniteau's graduation day.

For now, the Warriors will relish this win.

Albeit briefly.

“Oh my gosh, it's such a load off the shoulders,” Claypoole said. “The nerves are off of us a little bit now. I'm ready to keep it going.”

Everett 000 000 0 — 0 1 1

Moniteau 102 030 x — 6 9 0

W: Kennedy DeMatteis 7IP (13K, 5BB). L: Kadie Morral 6IP (2K, 2BB).

Everett: Hannah Laidig 1B

Moniteau (22-1): Cortney Claypoole 3-1B RBI 3-R, Kennedy DeMatteis 1B RBI, Kristina DeMatteis 2-1B 2B 3-RBI, Megan Hepler 1B RBI, Alazia Greaves 1B

Thursday: Moniteau vs. Ellwood City in PIAA Class AA quarterfinals, site and time to be determined