So much for the pitchers’ duel.

In a matchup of two of the area’s top hurlers, incendiary offense ruled the day Saturday as Mid-Buchanan claimed its fourth-straight Class 2 District 16 title at Heritage Park. The Dragons used a hit-parade performance to bounce KCI Conference rival East Buchanan, 9-7, and advance to the postseason for the sixth time this decade.

After managing only four hits against Jennifer McCoy during last month’s loss to the Bulldogs, Mid-Buchanan pounded out 13 hits that helped the team avenge a prior loss.

The Dragons match up Wednesday in a sectional against Trenton (16-1) at South Harrison High School.

“When they have that past history of coming in an winning those big games, that does help inspire them,” Mid-Buchanan coach Tereasa Freeman said. “I think they took that and were determined to do it again.”

Freshman Lauren Black ignited the Dragons’ hopes in the top of the first inning when she blasted a drive into center field. By the time she came to a stop, Black had a triple, three runners had scored and Mid-Buchanan took an early 4-0 lead.

The advantage wouldn’t last long, though, as the Bulldogs (16-4) found their stroke at the plate in the second — when they rapped out three doubles and evened the score at 4. East Buchanan also staged another rally in the bottom of the final frame by scoring three runs to put additional pressure on the Dragons.

“That’s something we’ve had to do all year long,” East Buchanan coach Andy Lewis said. “We could’ve just hung our heads and said it was over, but they kept fighting.”

So, too, did Mid-Buchanan.

The Dragons (15-10) retook the lead in the third inning with a three-run frame and continued to pad their lead throughout, thanks to multi-hit efforts from Lauren Walker (2-for-5), Caitlyn Schottel (3-4) and Black (4-4 with four RBIs).

Despite her struggles, Mid-Buchanan pitcher Katie Wood settled down midway through the contest and retired seven straight batters at one point to help her team regain its composure. Bitter-cold temperatures wreaked havoc on both pitchers, but Wood adjusted by the third inning and recaptured her stellar form.

“My hand wasn’t used to the cold at first, so that was part of it,” Wood said. “But I got in a groove and knew what the umpire liked.”

With a five-run cushion in the seventh, Wood allowed the first three batters to score but struck out the final two that started the on-field jubilation. After watching Wood guide the team to the state tournament a year ago, Freeman had a feeling her senior starter would slam the door.

“I knew it. It was just one of those feelings,” Freeman said. “Katie Wood’s always been a very determined and consistent pitcher, and she does a great job.”

In its first district title appearance since 2002, East Buchanan collected 11 hits — five of them doubles — against Wood and received multi-hit games from Chelsea Andrews (3-for-4), McCoy (2-4) and Hannah Adkins (3-4).

Jefferson 7, Stanberry 2

STANBERRY, Mo. — The Eagles also continued their recent stretch of dominance by cruising to a win against the Bulldogs behind Kendle Schieber’s solid showing on the mound.

Schieber, a sophomore, scattered four hits over seven innings of work and helped her own cause with a pair of hits, while Darcy Schieber blasted a solo home run — her first of the season — and contributed a pair of RBIs for the Eagles (19-4) on the way to winning the Class 1 District 15 title.

Jefferson, which claimed the Class 1 state championship last year, entered the district tourney as the No. 3 seed and claimed its fourth-straight district crown and sixth in the past nine seasons.

“We had a lot to come out and prove, and I think that’s what the girls took to heart,” Jefferson coach Deanna Bottorff said.

The game went scoreless until the third inning — when a pair of Stanberry errors opened the door for a big inning. Allie Meyer delivered an RBI single to put the Eagles on the board, and Jill Henry, Ashley Chor and Darcy Schieber soon followed with hits of their own. By the end of the inning, Jefferson owned a 5-0 lead and never looked back.

“Once we got that lead, our girls settled down a little bit and were more relaxed,” Bottorff said.

Megan Durbin did the majority of the damage at the plate for the Bulldogs by recording two doubles in a 2-for-3 effort that yielded both of Stanberry’s runs.

Class 3 District 16

Upsets abounded among Midland Empire Conference rivals during the first two rounds of play at Drake Field.

Defending district champion Chillicothe, the No. 3 seed, upended Lafayette — 2-1 — in a semifinal matchup, while fourth-seeded Benton trounced Maryville, 14-6, to reach the district final for the first time since 2005.

The Cardinals (15-8) trailed 6-4 after five innings against the Spoofhounds but recaptured the lead in powerful fashion. With one runner on, senior outfielder Hannah Moore launched a home run over the fence to tie the contest, and two batters later, Justice Vannaman did the same to give Benton a lead it wouldn’t give back.

Prior to Saturday, Benton had lost twice to Maryville after failing to solve Spoofhound starter Holly Wilmarth, who was finally chased in the seventh inning.

“We got aggressive at the plate. That was probably the biggest difference in our hitting,” Benton coach Greg Reynolds said. “As soon as that happened, you could tell the girls had it.”

In their only game this season, Chillicothe knocked off Benton — 1-0 — on Sarah Baldwin’s walkoff home run in the seventh inning. The Hornets reached Monday’s final, which will take place at 4:30 p.m. at Heritage Park, thanks to a 1-hitter by Baldwin against the Fighting Irish.

Despite winning the City Round Robin, Lafayette did not reach the district finale for the second straight year, and the loss marked the end of the prestigious career of senior pitcher Kelcey McMurray.

Sports reporter Andy Meyer can be reached

at andymeyer@npgco.com