PHILADELPHIA — Indian River doesn't have that one hitter who wows you with his power or a batter that's going to hit for an amazingly high average.

However, Warrior coach Matt Armes has something even better — a solid lineup that features players one through nine who can make consistent contact, and hitters who understand how to drive in runners from scoring position.

Indian River showcased its hitting depth on Monday in a matchup of the top two teams in the Frontier League "A" Division. The Warriors banged out 13 hits off Watertown left-hander Will VanHouten, and received hits from eight of the nine batters in the lineup to earn an 8-3 victory.

The Warriors (11-5 overall, 7-0 league) jumped on the Cyclones (9-5, 5-2) for three runs in the first inning, then picked up three big insurance runs in the sixth after WHS had drawn to within 5-3 in the top of the sixth.

Armes said being able to bat anybody in any position is a huge advantage.

"At the beginning of the season I was petrified that our guys at the bottom (of the lineup) wouldn't produce," Armes said. "But they've been very good and are getting better. Most teams figure those guys are just easy outs. For us, we know they can contribute."

Sophomore Jarrod Mattingly led the Indian River attack with three hits and drove in two runs. Junior Sean Iles had two hits, including a double, and an RBI, while sophomore Mike Bombard and junior Jarrod Peck, the last two batters, each finished with two hits.

"Coach has moved us around quite a bit in the lineup, but it hasn't really mattered," said Mattingly, who delivered a two-run single in the three-run sixth inning. "I batted sixth last week, and today I was third. We have so much confidence in 1-9 that we can maybe score runs other teams can't."

And while the Warriors made the most of their hits, the Cyclones continued to struggle with men in scoring position. Jordan Hayes's RBI single in the sixth was the lone WHS hit with a runner on second or third. And coach Matt Covey's team left eight runners stranded.

"They hit at key times and we didn't. It's as simple as that," Covey said. "That's been a problem for us all year. When our 3, 4 and 5 guys don't deliver, we can't score enough runs. And when we get down that far, it's even tougher."

Nolan Bodah's double and an infield error helped WHS take a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.

But Indian River answered right back with three runs in the bottom of the first as Mattingly, Jordan Hunneyman, Iles and Zane Fish strung together four consecutive hits.

Brandon Cavalet singled in another run for Indian River in the second to make it 4-1.

On the mound, Cavalet settled down after a sluggish start to stymie the Cyclones. The right-hander struck out 10 in six innings of work and walked just one before giving way to Hunneyman in the seventh.

Cavalet has turned into Armes's ace now that Jerry Coleman, last year's top Frontier League pitcher, transferred to Potsdam. And Cavalet is starting to feel more comfortable in that role.

"Every game I'm throwing better and gaining confidence," Cavalet said. "I know my teammates are counting on me to give them some innings and hold the opposition because we know we can score runs."

Said Armes: "Brandon has been mainly a reliever until this season, so he's had to grow into a starter's role. The last four games he's been great, and he seems to get stronger as the game goes on."

Bodah finished with two hits, and Adam McNulty had a double for Watertown.