Up and down the lineup, the Warrenton softball team has routinely managed to put the ball in play one way or another. The Warriors continued that act on Monday, closing out the regular season with a 10-4 win over Elsberry. They collected nine hits, including five extra-base hits. Coach Trevor Hibbs felt the performance was a promising way to open the week, as his team prepares for the Class 3 District 6 Tournament. Warrenton enters as the No. 1 seed, having earned a first-round bye. The Warriors’ efforts to defend their district crown from a year ago will begin on Thursday at 5 p.m. against the winner of the No. 4 Osage versus No. 5 Eldon game. Warrenton carries high expectations into the tournament after having finished with the school’s best regular season record in recent history. The Warriors concluded the season with a 16-7 mark overall and a 5-2 record in the conference, finishing third in the GAC North Conference. Monday’s game provided an opportunity to keep the bats fired up and honor its three seniors in the process during senior night. Elsberry took an early lead in the top of the first inning as the result of an error and single. But the Warriors promptly regained their composure, as their cast of power hitters answered the call. Senior Abby Job singled with two outs, and junior Melanie Raterman doubled to drive home Job, tying the contest in the bottom of the inning. Warrenton unloaded four more runs in the third inning. Senior Jamie Peper singled and reached by error, before being driven home by an Abby Job single. Raterman followed with a single, and Job advanced home on another error. Sophomore Jennah Garrison pushed the Warriors ahead 5-1 on a two-run home run, giving the Warriors their 10th team home run of the season. “Jennah really turned on that one during her second at bat,” said Hibbs. Mauch doubled in the sixth inning and scored on a sacrifice by Peper. Elsberry used a pair of errors and hits to close the gap in the fourth, scoring three runs. Warrenton didn’t seem shaken by the shift in momentum, tacking on four more runs in the sixth inning. “We battled,” said Hibbs. “The girls want to hit the ball, and they proved it tonight too. They drove it hard.” Danielle Morrow led off with a double and advanced on an error with Danyelle Dieckmann at the plate. Mauch singled, and Peper sacrificed home the first of four runs. Job connected on a two-run double, and Garrison singled to drive in the final run. “We had runners at second and third, and Abby came up. I talked to her about getting her pitch, and hitting me a hard line drive. And she did, right off the top of the fence.” Garrison, Job and Mauch each recorded two hits, while Garrison had four RBI and Job added three RBI. “It’s good when you have a team that can hit all the way up and down the long up, because you can always count on somebody to hit the ball and put one through to score some runs,” said Mauch. Mauch reached the 50 hit mark for the season, placing her second among area players. “I’ve been practicing a lot,” said Mauch. “On the weekends, I’ll get down on the tee and hit ball after ball.” Garrison tossed a full seven innings, striking out three and allowing four hits with one earned run. “She puts the ball where we ask for it,” said Hibbs. “As long as our team is making plays, we’re going to be right there in it.” The Warriors believed it was sign of respect to be awarded the No. 1 seed, but beyond that, it serves little purpose. “I like No. 1 seed for the fact that we’re the home team,” said Hibbs. “Other than that, seeds don’t really matter this time of year. You’ve got to go out and play the game.” “We’re pumped, and we’ve always got to be on our A-game,” said Peper. “I’m very confident that we’re going to do well in districts, and I’m excited.”