WARDSVILLE - The final 30 minutes of last year's Class 2 softball state championship game were a whirlwind of emotions for the Blair Oaks Lady Falcons.
At the start of that half hour, Blair Oaks was three outs from losing to the Centralia Lady Panthers - and three outs from being no-hit, no less. Twenty-five minutes later, the Lady Falcons were on the other side of the emotional spectrum, just three outs from winning the state title.
The ensuing walk-off home run in the next five minutes led to Centralia's 3-2 extra-inning win was a crushing blow that brought an end to Blair Oaks' playoff run with a runner-up finish and a 22-9 record.
"It was really hard to hold our heads up at that moment," Blair Oaks coach Sharon Buschjost said. "There was such a swing of emotion, going from not getting much done to making some things happen.
"If ever you're going to see what a team or players are made of, try to suffer through that. I was proud of the team for battling back."
The Lady Falcons lose six starters from last season. Four starters are coming back, including returning all-stater Sydney Wilde for her senior year.
Wilde led Blair Oaks with six home runs, hitting five of them during the second half of the season.
"I think more than anything, if she ever had any doubts about her importance to the team and her own ability, I hope now she knows what she can do for us," Buschjost said. "She'll definitely be in an RBI batting spot to drive in runs. She had a great season."
The Lady Falcons return junior Makenna Kliethermes in the pitcher's circle. Although Kliethermes didn't make all-state - she missed two weeks of the season with a right arm injury - she posted all-state numbers with a 14-6 record and 176 strikeouts with a 1.33 ERA.
Buschjost said there will be some games where only a fastball is necessary for Kliethermes.
"I think she has the potential to be the best pitcher in the state, if not one of the top pitchers in the state," Buschjost said. "We like what we have seen so far at the start of this year. She has gotten stronger, she is a stronger pitcher.
"She is becoming a college-like looking pitcher, in her size, speed and pitches."
Meredith Eisterhold, a senior, will be Blair Oaks' No. 2 pitcher behind Kliethermes.
"She's going to give some relief to Makenna, who won't be pitching every single game," Buschjost said.
Alexis Findley, a freshman, may also get some innings in the circle.
One of the biggest question marks heading into the season for Blair Oaks is the starting catcher. Wilde started at shortstop last season, but she may find herself behind the plate this season.
"It's pretty darn tough to go back there and catch somebody throwing close to 65 mph, and has more movement on pitches than she has had before," Buschjost said. "We have to make a conscious effort to whoever is catching Makenna, we can't expect them to go out and do a great job if they don't get the reps in practice to get used to her."
Junior Brooke Boessen returns as the starting center fielder. Boessen hit a home run in the Lady Falcons' 1-0 semifinal win against Jeffeson: Festus to reach the title game.
In the past, Buschjost said Boessen tried being a slap hitter from the left side of the plate, but her power as a right-handed hitter ended that experiment.
"During the summer, we've had her in the No. 1 spot (in the batting order) because she has speed and can also start us off with a leadoff home run," Buschjost said. "We'll see where that takes us. We may want some baserunners ahead of her before she gets up to the plate."
Senior Hannah Schroeder will make the move from designated player to right fielder this season. She batted cleanup last season for Blair Oaks and led the team with a .420 batting average.
"She's had to be pretty darn patient and understanding," Buschjost said. "She's a very good player and we definitely wanted her bat in the order. This year, (playing the field) is there for her, and she's done everything she needs to."
Torie Thurston, a senior, is expected to start in left field.
If Wilde catches, the Blair Oaks infield will have a whole new look. At the corner positions, seniors Nicole Bryan and Emma Boessen are battling at first base, while juniors Kayla Jones and Erin Fennewald are in contention for third base.
Seniors Macey Stockman and Cameron Dulle and junior Peyton Kusgen have been working at second base. Stockman could play shortstop as well.
Buschjost said it may come down to which player has the hot bat to decide the starting lineup.
"We're probably close to two- or three-deep at every infield position," Buschjost said. "Depending on how that plays out, it could be two- or three-deep in the outfield. I should be very happy as a head coach to have that problem."
Tonight's season opener will be all too familiar for Blair Oaks, getting right back on the horse to face defending state champion Centralia on the road. The JV game will start at 5 p.m., followed by the varsity contest around 6:30 p.m.
Much like last season, Buschjost is hoping to face Centralia a second time, either in next month's Capital City Invitational or, better yet, for a state title rematch.
"When you look at those things that win games, it's the speed, the pitching, the power," Buschjost said. "This is a team that is equipped with all of those facets of the game. That's what makes us pretty dangerous."