Warren third baseman Kiersten Hoffman first to first for an out during Wednesday’s game against Villa.

Warren’s offense exploded for six runs in the third inning and scored in each of the final four innings as the Dragon softball team made an early-season statement with a win at Harbor Creek on Friday.

The Huskies are the defending District 10 champions, though the Dragons defeated them twice a year ago.

“It’s nice to play a good team on a nice day,” Warren coach Jon Sitler said. “We had solid pitching, defense and timely hitting against a team that also does these things well.”

Warren pitcher Ellie Lobdell tossed a complete game, allowing only four hits and three walks while striking out nine.

“Ellie threw her game and also fielded her position well,” Sitler said. “She worked well with Grace (Wortman), who also made a couple nice plays.”

The Dragons started barreling up the ball in the third inning, punctuated by Kiersten Hoffman’s two-out, two-run home run. Warren played small ball in the following three innings, getting singles and using bunts to advance runners. They got back to the power game in the seventh with doubles from Ellie Lobdell and Julia Lobdell.

“We have a nice combination of small ball and power,” Sitler said. “We knew we couldn’t let up. They have everyone back who started in last year’s D10 title game.”

Lex Nyquist was 3-for-5 with three runs and two RBI and Julia Lobdell 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI for Warren (2-0, 1-0 in Region 6).

The Dragons will have no time to rest on their laurels as they host Fort LeBoeuf today at 11 a.m. at Legion Field.

JV: WARREN 4, HARBOR CREEK 3

Warren’s junior varsity held off a late Huskies’ rally to win, 4-3. Kyleigh Wilson had an RBI triple, and Alex Neureiter and Ryleigh Yeager contributed offensively. Kelsey Stuart threw three scoreless innings for Warren JV. Mariesa Clarke and Timber Housler made nice defensive plays in the outfield to close out the game.

WARREN (12) – Nyquist ss 5-3-3-2, Stuart dp-rf 4-0-0-2, Chase 1b 5-0-1-3, Wood cf 4-1-2-1, Hoffman 3b 4-2-2-2, E. Lobdell p 4-1-2-0, Sitler rf 2-2-2-0, Wortman c 4-1-1-1, J. Lobdell 2b 4-2-3-1, Wilson lf 0-0-0-0. Team 36-12-16-12

HARBOR CREEK (3) – Benim cf 3-1-2-0, Rafferty 3b 2-1-0-0, Harayda 1b 3-1-0-1, Forcht dp 3-0-0-0, Van Horn lf 2-0-0-0, Babay rf 2-0-1-2, Yonko c 3-0-1-0, Haight ss 2-0-0-0, Stoddard p 1-0-0-0, Baker p 1-0-0-0, Badach 1-0-0-0, Team 23-3-5-3

Warren 006 111 3 — 12 16 1

Harbor Creek 000 300 0 — 3 4 2

2b- J. Lobdell (W) 2, E. Lobdell (W). 3b – Wood (W). HR – Hoffman (W). WP – E. Lobdell. LP-Stoddard.