Blair Oaks softball coach Sharon Buschjost returns just three starters from last year's district championship team, but as she begins her 20th season calling the shots, she has grown to expect players to naturally fit into varsity roles and contribute.
"Every year some very good players graduate, and we need some very good players to replace them," said Buschjost, who has 338 career wins as a coach. "And every year we seem to have players eager and ready to fill that void. There's question marks as to how well they'll fill that void, but it gets filled and players come through. We have that happening again this year, some very good players ready to show what they can do.
One of those very good players is Jolie Duffner, who has since moved on to play for Ehren Earleywine's Missouri Tigers.
"That caliber of player who is going on to play Divison I softball, she will be missed," Buschjost said. "So there are some specific roles that graduates played that will be hard to replace, and we may need a couple players to help fill in. But I am confident others will step up and do that."
Blair Oaks fell to Fatima in sectionals in a thrilling 8-7 game last spring. The Falcons had defeated Fatima 7-6 in the regular season matchup. The programs will face off Sept. 5 at Fatima, Blair Oaks' fourth game of the season.
"We know all the potential road blocks in the way," Buschjost said. "Fatima being one of those road blocks last year that was just red-hot and playing great softball all year, but especially at the end of the season."
This year's goal has become the standard at Blair Oaks.
"Making a return trip to Springfield for the Final Four is reasonable and within our reach," Buschjost said.
But that will have to be done with a new set of players. Three starters return from a season ago. Senior right-handed pitcher Payton Staggs is the undoubted leader of the team and No. 1 starter.
"Our strength will be in the experience of Payton Staggs," Buschjost said of the first-team all-stater. "Both as a pitcher and a hitter. And then hopefully have a lot of supporting cast along with that. She's put a lot of time, effort and energy into both pitching and hitting, and just the experience she has at the high level of softball."
Carli Buschjost, a junior, is slated to start at second base. And after that, positions are up for grabs.
"There's just a lot of new players coming into varsity to take over," Sharon Buschjost said. "They're all good and it's just a matter of finding the one that's the best in all aspects of the game."
Prior to opening at St. Elizabeth tonight, the competition has been strong enough where players have made it difficult on the coaching staff to pencil in a lineup.
"Anytime as a coach where you have players pushing each other to where you start your season tomorrow night and you still are trying to see who is impressing you the most to fill spots, even as much as practice before we play, we are still evaluating some spots to see who we will have in the lineup," Buschjost said. "There are some spots that someone stands out. There are some positions where there is not as much competiton."
Buschjost said the outfield is largely unsolved at this point, but knows first-team all-district honoree Mackinnley Hamacher will likely see her name in the lineup.
The catching position is claimed as a strength, where there are "three or four" players vyying for time. Probable starter Nicole Otto is currently dealing with an "arm issue" and is questionable for the opener, Buschjost said.
Buschjost has preached somewhat of a new attitude in the preseason - aggressiveness. She recalled watching former player Sarah Jones last spring at Missouri State with an assistant coach. She was impressed to see every player hustling out of the box, regardless of speed. Buschjost sees that as something this year's team can implement.
"I've been demanding more out of the hitters when they put the ball into play, I want them to think double out of the box, as oppossed to - I think our mindset in past years has been - anticipating single and pacing themself accordingly," she said. "I want to see us be a little more aggresive, because I'm confident in the players that are new to varsity, but at the same time any little place you can take advantage to score more runs (you take it).
"I think it's best to assume that nothing is going to come easy, therefore we want to master the small things."
The Lady Falcons travel to St. Elizabeth for a 5 p.m. start. They open the season with a four-game road stint before opening up at home against Helias on Sept. 8.