With 11 returning players, the Montgomery County softball team will look to help Audra Heimer turn in a successful 10th season as coach.

Senior Aliviah Fischer, juniors Dylan Topel, Hailey Meyer, Skylar Bethmann, Gracie Cobb, Josy Eversmeyer and sophomores Reese Hill, Anna Klekamp, Jillian Weekley, Samantha Turner and Grace Thier are back from last year’s team that finished with a school-record 18 victories, doubling its win total of nine from the year before.

Last year, the Wildcats split their first two games of the season before going on a six-game winning streak that included a 3-0 mark in their first-place finish at the Monroe City Tournament. Their season ended with a loss to Louisiana in the district semifinals at Kiwanis Fields.

Heimer’s goal for her team for 2024 is simple.

“I just want them to come out and have confidence and know that they can win because they have potential to be really good,” said Heimer, who has a 121-91 career record with six winning seasons. “They just need to have confidence to know that themselves.”

Fischer and Hill were named on the Class 3 all-state team in 2023. They combined for 12 home runs and 73 RBIs and batted over the .500 mark. This year, Fischer returns at third base, while Hill will pitch and play shortstop.

“Both of them have really good bats,” Heimer said.

The Wildcats have three returning all-district performers in Turner, Topel and Klekamp. Turner, who plays first base, hit .333 with 27 RBIs. Topel, a catcher, batted .310 with 19 RBIs. Klekamp, an outfielder, finished with a .299 batting average.

Turner and Klekamp were among several players on the team who played travel ball during the summer. A month ago, they helped the NEMO Hot Shots place second at the USSSA Fast Pitch 16-and-Under National Championships in Branson. Turner earned Offensive Most Valuable Player honors.

Also on the team are junior Georgia Strahan and freshmen Shannon Hall, Kenley Wessel, Sullee Falloon and Megan Blackstock.

The Wildcats are off to a 2-0 start after beating Hermann 5-4 on Sept. 3 at home and knocking off Silex 2-1 on Sept. 5 on the road.

Last year, the Wildcats were 6-3 in Eastern Missouri Conference play. Heimer said Elsberry, Silex, Bowling Green and North Callaway will be the teams to beat in the EMO this fall.

“Elsberry, Silex, Bowling Green and North Callaway are always really good,” Heimer said. “If we can beat those top four teams, we’ll be in contention to be really good.”

MCHS played Elsberry and Silex – along with Community R-6 – at a jamboree at Kiwanis Fields. The Wildcats finished 1-2, beating Silex and losing to Elsberry and R-6.

Heimer said her team struggled on defense throughout the jamboree. The Wildcats had three errors in their opening game against R-6.

“It’s good that we have a jamboree so we can get it out of our system,” Heimer said. “But we’re going to have to tighten up our defense. We can’t give up extra outs every inning. I told them if we’re going to do that, we’re going to have to put 10 runs on the board every night. We should be able to win a ballgame with 3-4 runs, but we have to play better defense.”