CHERRY TWP — Junior second baseman Alyssa Dailey doesn't typically work up a sweat on defense during Moniteau's softball games.

The Warriors, who bat .483 as a team, tend to do most of their movement on the basepaths.

During the Class AA District 9 playoffs, Dailey is hoping to see more ground balls.

Moniteau could use the practice.

The Warriors, who are 18-1 and the top seed in districts, have won eight games by enacting the 10-run or 15-run mercy rules.

Dailey doesn't expect to see that trend continue once Moniteau opens the playoffs against the winner of Cranberry and Johnsonburg at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Moniteau.

“I'm hoping to field ground balls better than we have been,” Dailey said. “We don't get balls hit to us. Just practice hard and keep doing what we're doing. Hopefully, more balls get hit to us during the game so we can practice.”

The lack of activity in the infield has been due to the excellence of sophomore pitcher Kennedy DeMatteis.

In 17 appearances, DeMatteis has 16 wins, seven shutouts, two no-hitters and 148 strikeouts.

That has fifth-year Warriors coach Dan Beebe encouraging his team to get work in whenever they can find the time.

“When we have a game with a lot of strikeouts, we make sure to throw it around the infield,” said Beebe, who has an 83-18 record at Moniteau. “If the ball's not in play as much, we need to make sure we're getting our throws in.”

The Warriors have an .874 fielding percentage and have made 26 errors.

Four Moniteau players with at least 10 total chances — Alazia Greaves (.947), Kennedy DeMatteis (.939), Taylor Hasychak (.917) and Gabby Stewart (.905) — have fielding percentages of .900 or better.

Hasychak and Dailey are in their second year of playing new positions. Both were shifted around when the Warriors had an influx of eight freshmen come into the program last season.

Dailey, who was a second-team All-KSAC outfielder as a freshman, moved to second base. Hasychak, who was primarily a pitcher, settled at first base.

Hasychak is confident the teams in the district playoffs will give them opportunities to improve.

“It's repetition and it's also our mindset going into the game,” Hasychak said. “Sometimes if we make an error it's like collateral damage, it effects the whole team. We just have to shake off our errors.”

Emphasis on being stout defensively is something Beebe has learned from past experience.

When he went to the state championships as a spectator last year, he didn't see eye-popping strikeout totals.

“I told the girls there were no pitchers there striking out 16 batters.” Beebe said. “The most strikeouts any pitcher had was six or seven strikeouts. The further you go, the more the ball is going to be in play.”

It's a lesson this group learned in the state playoffs last season.

The Warriors fielded .884 as a team last year, committing 29 errors.

Seven of those came in Moniteau's state playoff loss to Philipsburg-Osceola.

Dailey and her teammates have taken note.

“We learned that no matter what, we always have to have our defense behind us,” Dailey said. “Our pitchers aren't going to be able to do everything for us. When we play those bigger and better teams, then we're going to have defense and the bat going.”