STRATTANVILLE — Autumn Neff hoisted the District 9 championship trophy high in the air and screamed.

The senior center fielder on the Moniteau softball team had been waiting for a moment like this for three years, and she wasn't going to waste the opportunity to celebrate.

“It's pretty much one of the most exciting moments of my life,” Neff said, grinning.

Moniteau literally walked off with the District 9 Class AA trophy in a 16-6, five-inning rout of Cranberry at Clarion-Limestone on a sweltering Tuesday afternoon.

The Warriors drew 14 base on balls — 10 in the final two innings and five straight to end the wild game by mercy rule.

It was Moniteau's first district crown since 2008 and the first time the Warriors had won the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference and the district title in the same season.

Moniteau's 16-1 record also is the best through 17 games in the program's history.

Not bad for first-year coach Dan Beebe, who inherited a team with just four seniors, loads of youth and a plethora of question marks.

“It is special,” Beebe said. “We've had a lot of talent come through this program and a lot of people thought all the talent had already passed through and this was going to be a rebuilding year. Not a bad rebuilding year, if you want to call it that.”

Beebe spent three years as an assistant under Dan Hindman, who left to coach the Butler softball team.

Beebe got two water bucket showers from his team after this win.

Neff said Beebe deserved all the baths — and the praise — for guiding this team to the title.

She admitted she had her doubts before the season started about how far the team could go.

“I wasn't too sure. I was a little worried,” Neff said. “I thought Dan Beebe was going to be different than Dan Hindman, and I wasn't sure if it was going to be the same. But Beebe stepped it up and he's awesome.”

Before Moniteau could win this district crown, it needed to overcome some adversity.

The Warriors took an early 4-0 lead, getting three runs in the bottom of the third. The big blow was a two-run single by senior Mackenzie Maples.

Moniteau had a chance to add even more to that lead in the second inning. With one run already in, the Warriors loaded the bases with no one out, but failed to score again.

That opened up an opportunity for Cranberry, which stormed back to take a 5-4 lead in the fourth, thanks to some shaky defense by Moniteau.

The Berries scored two runs on throwing errors and two more on a sacrifice fly to center that allowed Cranberry runners on third and second to score after a collision between Neff and left fielder Emily Hiwiller.

Even after squandering a 4-0 lead, there was little panic in the Moniteau dugout.

“I was trying to get everyone in the dugout up and cheering,” said Moniteau senior catcher Brittney Fallen. “I was just trying to get everyone back in it.

“I think it worked,” Fallen added.

The Warriors wasted little time in reclaiming the lead, scoring nine runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and chasing Cranberry starting pitcher Kristin White.

White had been throwing strikes for three innings, but suddenly lost command.

Fallen and Holly Colosimo each had two-run doubles in the inning as White gave up four hits and five walks before leaving the game.

Two more Cranberry pitchers didnt fare any better as Moniteau got three runs without a hit in the bottom of the fifth inning to end the game.

“We were disciplined at the plate,” Beebe said. “We took what they gave us.”

What Cranberry gave Moniteau was more than enough for its pitcher Colosimo, who struck out two, walked no one and gave up just three earned runs.

Moniteau will play City League champion Langley in the play-in round of the PIAA Class AA tournament at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at Clarion-Limestone.

Cranberry 003 21x x — 6 7 6Moniteau 310 93x x — 16 10 4Two outs in fifth when mercy-rule run scoredW: Holly Colosimo 5 IP (2 K, 0 BB).

L: Kristin White 3.2 IP (3 K, 8 BB).

Cranberry: Kylie Mason 1B 2-RBI, Courtney Allen 2B, Lauren Hogue 2B RBI, Sune' Swart 1B 2B RBI

Moniteau (16-1): Chloe Eshenbaugh 2B 1B RBI, Sydney Boben 2-RBI, Autumn Neff 2-1B 2-RBI, Brittney Fallen 2B 2-RBI, Mackenzie Maples 1B 2-RBI, Colosimo 2B 2-RBI, Heather McMillen 2-1B RBI

Thursday: Moniteau vs. Langley, PIAA Class AA play-in game at Clarion-Limestone, 4:30 p.m.