The Warrenton softball team set out this season with some pretty high expectations. Currently, they are meeting those expectations.

Sitting at 16-5 to end their regular season, including going undefeated in the GAC North, Head Coach Chad Berrey feels that his team has a very exciting future ahead of them.

“Our season has been a mirror image of the year 2020,” Berrey said. “It’s been a roller coaster of emotions with the success we have had, the scheduling changes, the contact tracing and quarantining, and the adaptation of the new normal of 2020.”

The first goal of the season was to win a conference championship. For the second consecutive season, the Lady Warriors accomplished this by running the table at 8-0 and allowing only five runs during that span.

“I feel very confident in our team,” Berrey said. “I believe we have met the expectations that we have put upon ourselves as our pitchers have performed at a very high level, our bats are alive, and our defense has had our pitchers’ backs.”

The next goal on the list is a district championship. This is a goal every year, but Warrenton has seemed to come up just short in recent years. Berrey feels that this is the year to get over the hump.

“This is the most confident that I have been as a head coach going into districts,” Berrey said. “We wanted the first seed in districts, but I think having the second seed sets us up a little better; more at-bats and innings going into good competition.”

For the Lady Warriors to win the district title, they will need their best hitter and senior leader to continue to dominate at the plate. Shortstop Hailey Roberts leads the team in nearly every offensive category, with an astounding .514 average, with seven home runs and 39 runs batted in.

“Last year, going into districts, it was different,” Roberts said. “We didn’t have as much fun and the drive to win state.”

What Roberts is for this team at the plate, pitcher Kathryn McChristy is for them on the mound. The ace of the pitching staff posted another stellar season with a record of 13-4 and a 1.38 earned run average. The junior struck out 190 hitters in her 101 innings of work and only walked 22.

“I think the whole team has more confidence this year,” McChristy said. “We know we’re better and can go farther.”

Warrenton will host the Class 4, District 4 Tournament beginning this Wednesday. They faced No. 7 Marshall on Wednesday. With a win over the Lady Owls, the Lady Warriors will play Thursday at 4 p.m. in the semifinals. The district championship game is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday.

“Through all the punches that this season has thrown at us, my girls have shown outstanding adversity and grit,” Berrey said. “Whatever the situation was the girls stepped up, filled a role, and got the job done.”