WARDSVILLE, Mo. - The Blair Oaks Lady Falcons know they have the talent - and the experience - to get back to the Final Four.
Now it's about finding a way to finish with a state championship trophy.
"One thing I've tried as a coach is to try to see where else in the game of softball we can get an edge," Blair Oaks coach Sharon Buschjost said. "We're kind of approaching a little bit more in this preseason, just kind of spending a little time on mental approach and mental toughness to the game."
The Lady Falcons were runner-up in Class 2 last fall for the second straight season, falling to Bowling Green in the championship game. Blair Oaks ended the season with a 28-6 record.
That team boasted five all-state players, and three are returning this fall. Blair Oaks opens the season today against Centralia at the Falcon Athletic Complex. First pitch is at 5 p.m.
Among the top returners is senior pitcher Makenna Kliethermes, who set a school record with 290 strikeouts in 2017 to go with a 22-2 record.
"I think the area of her game that I want to see her work on is reducing the number of pitches it takes to retire a batter, and in the long run, reduce the number of pitches she's throwing," Buschjost said.
Kliethermes shared the pitching workload last season with Meredith Eisterhold and Alexis Findley, which prevented her from being overused as the season wore on. Buschjost plans to take the same approach this fall, getting both Findley, a sophomore, and freshman Andi Siebeneck in the pitcher's circle.
Buschjost said Findley has more spin on her pitches, while Siebeneck was very consistent during the summer.
"What's been nice is we've got two young assistant coaches who aren't that far removed from their college playing days," Buschjost said of Taylor Doerhoff and Alora Moore, both former pitchers for the Lady Falcons, who will join Jill Linnenbrink on the coaching staff.
Senior Kayla Jones, like Kliethermes, was a first-team all-state selection last season. Jones previously played third base for the Lady Falcons, but Buschjost said she will move to left field this season.
"She went about her business quietly and was under the radar, but she was deserving of her honor," Buschjost said.
The third all-state returner is senior Brooke Boessen, who will remain in center field. Boessen's walk-off single in the ninth inning again Lathrop put the Lady Falcons in the championship game last fall.
"It's sometimes hard to find that true five-tool player in a high-school setting, but I think she's the one that is the closest to that than a lot of the players I coached," Buschjost said.
Senior Peyton Kusgen returns at second base, while the rest of the infield will be filled out with junior Kaitlyn Kolb at first base, sophomore Bailey Rissmiller at shortstop and senior Erin Fennewald at third.
Buschjost said Kusgen will be a leader on the infield.
"Peyton will be the one I can count on to step up and talk and make sure everybody is on the same page," Buschjost said.
If teams struggle to hit Kliethermes and turn to bunting the ball, Buschjost said she could move Jones to third and rotate Fennewald to left field.
Juniors Natalie Otto and Kathleen Groner are competing for the last starting spot in right field. Buschjost said Otto has the edge, but with Groner's power with the bat, she could easily work her way into the lineup as designated player.
The Lady Falcons will have a sibling battery this season, with sophomore Ellie Klithermes behind the plate catching her older sister. Ellie will be the third different starting catcher for Makenna in as many years.
"I couldn't think of a better person than a younger sister in this situation, honestly, catching for Makenna," Buschjost said. "Ellie's not intimated by anyone, not even her big sister."
Buschjost also feels good about Blair Oaks' batting order, with Jones leading off, followed by Kusgen, Kliethermes, Boessen and Fennewald.
"I think the key to that is to make sure, with either Kayla or Peyton in the 1-2 spot, we're getting a baserunner out of one of those two," Buschjost said. "If that plays out, I'm going to like the 3-4 combination there."
Blair Oaks has won seven straight titles in the Tri-County Conference. Buschjost said there will be added excitement with Boonville joining the conference, just as when Hallsville joined earlier this decade.
The Lady Falcons also have 12 consecutive district championships on their resume. Fatima, which was been the Lady Falcons' sectional foe the past four seasons, will host Blair Oaks this fall in the Class 2 District 9 tournament. Other teams in the district are Belle, Calvary Lutheran, Eugene and Linn.
The district will feature three returning district champions. Calvary Lutheran won a district title in Class 1 last fall.
"A lot of years, I always talk about how there's only one goal, one expectation, and that's to win state," Buschjost said. "That will never change.
"Getting there is one thing, but winning it is the ultimate. If we can make a few changes along the way, or incorporate a little bit more in our practice plan or just take time individually with some players, making sure we're all on the same page that goes a long way."