STRATTANVILLE — Chloe Eshenbaugh's wide smile and disarming laugh hides the real beast that lives inside of her.

Put cleats on her feet, a helmet over her flowing raven hair and an aluminum bat in her hands, and Eshenbaugh is a terror at the top of the order for the Moniteau softball team.

Not only has Eshenbaugh been a catalyst for the Warriors during a record-setting 17-1 season that has put them in the first round of the PIAA Class AA softball playoffs against Burrell at 5 p.m. Monday at North Allegheny, she also has been their top run producer.

“Naturally, she's our one hitter,” said Moniteau softball coach Dan Beebe. “But I could put her anywhere in the lineup and she'd be successful.”

Eshenbaugh was at it again Thursday afternoon at Clarion-Limestone against Langley in the play-in round of the PIAA Class AA playoffs.

The sophomore shortstop went 2-for-3 with an inside-the-park home run and drove in four runs in Moniteau's 12-1 win over the Mustangs.

“That's where I've always hit my whole life, in the leadoff spot,” Eshenbaugh said. “That seems to be where I do the best.

“My job is just to get on base. When I get up there, I look to see where the defense is playing and where I can hit the ball. I just picture myself getting on base every time up.”

And she nearly has.

Eshenbaugh has been almost impossible to get out this season.

She leads the Warriors in batting average (.567), hits (34), RBI (29), runs scored (26), doubles (eight) and triples (four).

In 69 plate appearances, she has struck out just once.

“That was early in the season,” Beebe said. “I don't even remember what game that was.”

Her performance this season came as a surprise to no one.

As a freshman last season, she cemented her place in the leadoff spot and led the team in runs scored.

Eshenbaugh got her start playing baseball for West Sunbury when she was 5. She made the switch to softball when she was 10 and has been terrorizing other high school and traveling teams ever since.

She's also a slick fielder at short with great range and leads the team in total chances.

And she can run the bases with the best of them. She hasn't been caught stealing this season and can turn any hit to the gap into extra bases.

Against Langley, she turned what could have been only a double into a home run with her speed.

“I want to score every time I get on base,” Eshenbaugh said. “I just put my head down and run around the bases as fast as I can.”

Eshenbaugh said she can get better — a pretty scary proposition for Moniteau opponents.

“If I keep playing throughout the summers like I do now, I can get a lot better,” Eshenbaugh said. “I can improve. I want to play college ball.”

Moniteau sophomore shortstop Chloe Eshenbaugh leads the Warriors in virtually every offensive category. Following are her statistics heading into the first round of the PIAA Class AA softball playoffs:<B>Batting average</B> .567<B>Home runs</B> 1<B>RBI</B> 29<B>Runs </B>26<B>Hits </B>34<B>Doubles</B> 8<B>Triples</B> 4<B>OBP</B> .609<B>Slugging</B> .883