WARDSVILLE - Expectations haven't changed much from year to year for the Blair Oaks Lady Falcons softball team.
Then again, the results haven't changed much from year to year either. The Lady Falcons have won 10 straight district titles and return seven starters from last year's squad, which split the Tri-County Conference championship with Southern Boone. Blair Oaks had a 21-7 record in 2015.
The road for 11 straight begins at 5 p.m. tonight when the Lady Falcons host St. Elizabeth at the Falcon Athletic Complex.
"Luckily, just about every year I've coached at Blair Oaks, the expectations really have not changed too much," Blair Oaks coach Sharon Buschjost said. "They know as players, whether they are freshmen or seniors, that they've put in a lot of time in the offseason."
The Lady Falcons ended their season last October with a 1-0 loss to Fatima in the Class 2 sectionals. In each of the past five seasons, either Fatima or Centralia has halted Blair Oaks' run for a state title.
"Fatima's always a big part of the postseason picture, along with Centralia," Buschjost said.
Blair Oaks returns seven seniors this fall, filling half the varsity roster. Two of those seniors make up the middle of the infield, with Carli Buschjost at second base and Sydney Wilde at shortstop.
Carli Buschjost, a returning All-State infielder, is coming off foot surgery and will only be used defensively to start the season. A designated player will hit in her place until she is 100 percent cleared.
"Defensively, she's one of the top second basemen that have come through the program," Sharon Buschjost said.
Sophomore Makenna Kliethermes will take the place of Payton Staggs, the Tri-County's Most Outstanding Player last season, in the pitcher's circle.
"Makenna is ready to step in and be that person," Buschjost said. "We should be right there, in terms of putting together a complete team."
Senior Megan Mitchem will also pitch some innings, but when Kliethermes is in the circle, she'll get the start at first base. Mitchem is left-handed and Kliethermes is a righty.
Buschjost said when Kliethermes is not pitching, her bat will keep her in the lineup.
The Lady Falcons return junior Hannah Schroeder as an All-State outfielder, but the three outfield spots have been a battle this preseason.
"I've had more competition in the outfield than I can ever remember in my 21 years of coaching," Buschjost said. "We're not completely set on the outfield yet, but we will get there really soon."
Senior Mackinnley Hamacher is the only lock in the starting outfield at left field. Schroeder, because of her ability to play multiple positions, could start in the outfield, at third base, at catcher or even as the DP to begin the season. Senior Macyn Wilbers is also in the mix for either third base or the outfield.
Senior Emilee Jones and sophomore Brooke Boessen are in the battle for a starting spot in the outfield, and senior Lydia Pointer is injured, but when she returns, she will play first base.
"The depth that we have at various positions will be a nice piece for a coach to have and not lose any confidence whatsoever with what the outcome of the game should be," Buschjost said.
The batting order appears to be just as deep as the defense.
"When I was making out the lineup for the (Hickman) Jamboree, my assistant coach and I were sitting there, saying, 'Wow, our No. 8 hitter could be a No. 2, 3, 4 or 5 (hitter) on another team.' That's a good feeling," Buschjost said.
The Lady Falcons begin the season with four home contests before their first road game Sept. 6 at Helias. They will also play in the Capital City Invitational, the Kewpie Classic and the Carthage Tournament.