CHERRY TWP — Last spring, Moniteau’s softball team bulldozed its way to a District 9 Class AA title and did not taste defeat until early June.

With a plethora of talented players returning, the Warriors are back for more.

Leading the charge is defending Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference MVP Kennedy DeMatteis, who as a freshman led a torrid offense in runs (38), RBI (35), batting average (.676) and home runs (4) while compiling a pitching record of 16-1 with 142 strikeouts.

But, as Moniteau coach Dan Beebe explained, she is far from the Warriors’ lone threat in the circle.

“We also have Cortney Claypoole, Taylor Hasychak and Alazia Greaves,” he said. “Two years ago, Taylor won 16 games for us and we are very excited to be able to bring her back. We also are confident in throwing Cortney and Alazia out there. They can both get us innings.”

Other impressive numbers of returning players include 30 runs, 31 RBI and a batting average of .662 from catcher Kristina DeMatteis.

“Kristina is a leader for us behind the plate and knows the game very well,” said Beebe.

Claypoole hit .583, Hasychak .509 and third baseman Sara Hull batted .431.

Beebe was impressed with the way his team played down the stretch last year. The Warriors outscored their foes 232-66. Their lone loss came in the first round of the state playoffs to Philipsburg-Osceola.

“You get to 15-0 and people start talking about that undefeated record more and more,” he said. “We handled the pressure well. This team has great expectations. The girls have put the work in and we just need to continue to progress.”

Following are preview capsules for the 11 Butler County area high school softball teams.

Returning starters are denoted (*).

A-C Valley

Coach: Bob Bowser, first year

Last Year: The Falcons qualified for the District 9 Class A playoffs.

Projected lineup: P-Katie Stumpner* (Jr.); C-Danielle Kaufman* (Sr.); 1B-Sadie Longo* (Sr.); 2B-Lydia Thompson* (Sr.); 3B-Alyssa Babcock* (Jr.), SS-Lauren McNany* (Jr.), OF-Haylee Wetzel* (Jr.), Kiersten Rothen* (Jr.) and Sydney Rankin (Fr.)

Note: Alyssa Babcock and Haylee Wetzel were all-conference selections last year.

Outlook: “We have a very solid and sound defensive team,” said Bowser. “With a strong group coming back, we want to get back to the playoffs and go deeper this time.”

Butler

Coach: Shauna Troup, second year

Last season: The Golden Tornado were 7-8 overall and missed the WPIAL playoffs.

Projected lineup: P-Emily McDonald* (Sr.); C-Jen Miller* (Jr.); 1B-Rachel Rebmann* (Sr.); 2B-Kait Barnett* (Sr.); 3B-Anna Heade* (Jr.); SS-Noel Pfabe* (Jr.); OF-Amanda Webb* (Sr.), Hannah Hays* (So.), Hannah Folk (Fr.) or Ali Graham (Fr.).

2014 stats: Rebmann hit six home runs and tallied 25 RBI as Butler’s cleanup hitter. Hays hit .400 and Pfabe nearly matched that. The Golden Tornado hit .316 as a team and had a fielding percentage of .920.

Outlook: “We don’t pick captains, but our four seniors are influential and great leaders,” said Troup. “I’ve been telling the girls since fall ball, we are expecting nothing less than making the playoffs.”

Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic

Coach: Ron Shanahan, ninth year

Last season: The Trojanettes missed the WPIAL playoffs.

Top projected players: P-Alayna Derzak (Jr.); C-Brittany Baxendell* (Sr.); 1B-Tayjah White* (So.).

Outlook: “We have 15 players and nine of them are freshmen,” Shanahan said. “The sooner we get the freshmen going, the better off we’ll be as a team.”

Freeport

Coach: Sam Ross, fifth year

Last season: The Yellowjackets went 10-5 and made the WPIAL Class AA playoffs.

Projected lineup: P-Jess Kelley* (Sr.), Kristie Radvan (So.) or Alyssa Obringer (Jr.); C-Morgan McCarthy* (So.); 1B-Karly Hill* (Sr.); 2B-Julianne Mariotti (Sr.) or Ashleigh Schmidt (Fr.); 3B-Obringer*; SS-Radvan*; OF-Angela Hewitt* (Sr.), Claire Crytzer (Fr.), Kristen Karcher* (Jr.), Savannah Claypool (So.), Jenna Hildebrand (Fr.) or Becca Fennell (Fr.).

2014 stats: Kelley tallied 90 strikeouts in the circle while batting .482. McCarthy led the team with a .521 batting average and had seven home runs. Radvan batted .458, Obringer .442 and Hill .415.

Outlook: “We haven’t been on the field much, but we just scrimmaged Fox Chapel and fared pretty well,” said Ross. “We should do well this season.”

Grove City

Coach: Dave Gatewood, second year

Last season: The Eagles finished 7-9 and missed the District 10 playoffs.

Projected lineup: P-Maddie Alberti* (Sr.) or Michaela Ferguson (Fr.); C-Hannah Bumbaco* (So.); 1B-Jordan Malczak* (So.); 2B-Belle Chiodo* (Sr.); 3B-Katie Maine* (Jr.); SS-Gabby Herald (Fr.); OF-Ferguson, Grace Dadzaa* (Sr.) and Cassie Feather* (Sr.).

Outlook: “Hickory and Corry should both be good and Slippery Rock is much improved,” Gatewood said. “It’s going to be very competitive.”

Karns City

Coach: Jim Gibson, third year

Last season: The Gremlins made the District 9 Class AA playoffs.

Projected lineup: P-LeeAnn Gibson* (Jr.) or Taylor Downs (Jr.); C-Clara Stoughton* (Sr.); 1B-Jordan Downs* (Jr.) or Michaela Bailey (So.); 2B-Alyssa Gibson* (So.), Taylor Ritzert (Sr.) or LeeAnn Gibson; 3B-Bailey or Downs; SS-Ashley Coon* (Jr.), Downs or Alyssa Gibson; OF-Saydie Moore* (Sr.), Brittney Coyle* (Sr.), Anna Oshlick (Sr.) or Ritzert.

Outlook: “LeeAnn Gibson and Ashley Coon are both coming back from injury and we are not sure when they will be ready to play,” Gibson said. “We are still a good team without those two players, but it would be nice to have them in the lineup.”

Knoch

Coach: Tim Knappenberger, seventh year

Last season: The Knights won Section 5-AAA and finished 10-4 overall.

Projected lineup: P-Shelby Bruggeman (Sr.) or Jessi Reed (Jr.); C-Avery Keller* (So.); 1B-Celia Knappenberger (Fr.); 2B-Sydney Natili* (So.); 3B-Abigail Black (Fr.); SS-Abbie Thrower* (Sr.); OF-Hayle Fox* (Sr.), Taylor Lesseski* (Jr.) and Chalee Durand (Fr.).

Note: Chandler Krelow (Sr.) and Maura Thinnes (Fr.) could also work their way into the lineup.

Outlook: “We want to compete for another section title and take a bigger step in the playoffs,” Knappenberger said.

Mars

Coach: Michele Goodworth, 17th year

Last season: The Planets ended up 12-6 overall, were runner-up in WPIAL Class AAA and qualified for the state playoffs.

Projected lineup: P-Niki Schlegel* (Jr.); C-Marina Manuppelli* (So.); 1B-Suzanne Papik* (Sr.); 2B-Mallory Eperesi* (Jr.); 3B-Lindy Lee (Fr.); SS-Isabella Berkopec (Fr.); OF-Maggie Olshenske (Fr.), Katie Hoover (Jr.), Hunter Berneburg (Sr.) or Jordyn Douglas (Fr.).

Outlook: “Last year was a little unexpected,” Goodworth said. “The core group this year has the most talent I’ve seen since I’ve been coaching. We expect to be very competitive.”

Moniteau

Coach: Dan Beebe, fifth year

Last season: The Warriors finished 20-1 overall and won the District 9 Class AA title, earning a trip to the state playoffs.

Projected lineup: P-Kennedy DeMatteis* (So.), Cortney Claypoole (So.), Taylor Hasychak* (Sr.) and Alazia Greaves (So.); C-Kristina DeMatteis* (So.) and Gabby Stewart (So.); 1B-Hasychak* or Megan Hepler (Fr.); 2B-Alyssa Dailey* (Jr.); 3B-Sara Hull* (So.); SS-Claypoole; OF-Stewart*, Greaves*, Courtney Sowinski* (Jr.), Bailey Hoffman (So.) or Makayla King (So.).

2014 stats: Kennedy DeMatteis totaled 142 strikeouts in 100 innings pitched with a 2.31 ERA. Claypoole batted .583 with 29 RBI, Hull drove in 30 runs and Kristina DeMatteis batted .662 with 31 RBI.

Outlook: “The girls have put the work in,” said Beebe. “We just need to continue to progress.”

Seneca Valley

Coach: George Trew, 15th year

Last season: The Raiders finished 13-3 overall, tied Shaler for the section title and made the WPIAL playoffs.

Projected lineup: P-Nikki Matz* (Sr.); C-Maddie Schultz (So.); 1B-Julia Zezinka* (Sr.); 2B-Marie Marnik (So.); 3B-Ashley Kappeler* (Sr.); SS-Morgan Aloi (Fr.); OF-Jess Neill* (Sr.), Elayna Nagy* (So.) and Tori Pfab (Jr.).

2014 stats: Matz was 13-3 with 75 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.00. Nagy led the team with a .519 batting average.

Outlook: “Nikki will keep us in games, but we are going to have to hit,” Trew said. “We’re bringing some good hitters back, but we lost some (to graduation) too.”

Slippery Rock

Coach: Dan Hindman, second year

Last season: The Rockets won one game.

Projected lineup: P-Cheyenne Hindman (Fr.); C-Alexis Vogan* (Jr.); 1B-Joella Neal* (So.); 2B-Tayler Mosta (Jr.) or Macy McCall (Fr.); 3B-Hope Schnell* (Jr.) or McCall; SS-Brynn Horner (Fr.); OF-Megan Mingione* (Sr.), Marie Bosch* (Sr.) and Hannah Wilson (Fr.).

Outlook: “Our younger girls are bringing a lot of talent,” said Hindman. “We are looking to make a significant improvement this year and I’m excited about the team.”