When the Montgomery County softball season ended with a loss to Mid-Buchanan in the Class 2 third-place game at 5:56 p.m. on Oct. 31 in Springfield, players got a round of applause from their fans.

Numerous members from the Montgomery County community made the three-hour drive down to the Ozarks to cheer on a softball team that competed at the Class 2 Final Four for the first time in program history.

“It’s amazing,” MCHS sophomore shortstop Sullee Falloon said. “We have the best fans. I’m so lucky that they all drove out to watch us.”

The Wildcats finished with a 28-7 record. They also shared the Eastern Missouri Conference title with Elsberry and North Callaway and captured their second district championship in program history.

After the Wildcats clinched a Final Four berth with a victory over Chaffee in a state quarterfinal game on Oct. 25, numerous businesses from City Hall to Montgomery Hardware immediately put up posters wishing the team luck at Springfield. 

A pep rally for the team was held at Jonesburg Elementary School on Oct. 29. Students put crowns on the players’ heads.

The next day, players did walkthroughs at the high school, Montgomery County Middle School and Montgomery City Elementary. They were escorted by the police and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department on the ride along Highway 19 through Montgomery City.

“The elementary kids are so cute,” Falloon said. “They had so much faith in us. They gave us little cards that had good luck. The high school thought that we could do it. The middle school, too. They were all cheering for us and rooting for us.” 

Falloon said she and her teammates enjoyed the pep rally at JBE. Players were wearing their district champion T-shirts.

“It was amazing being down there with the support that we had, even with the little kids with the crowns and all of the gifts they gave us,” Falloon said.

MCHS coach Audra Heimer said she was pleased with the community support during her team’s postseason run. The Wildcats began their quest for the Final Four on Oct. 22 by knocking off Elsberry in the district championship game at Elsberry. Three days later, they headed to Chaffee and pulled off a come-from-behind, 7-5 win over Chaffee in the state quarterfinals.

“The girls had so much support the last few weeks, not just the last few days,” Heimer said. “People have pitched in money to buy them things and buy them food. They’ve been well fed. The pep rallies, walkthroughs and the drive through town. You couldn’t ask for anything more.”

The team traveled a grand total of 974 miles during its postseason. Freshman Addison Cannon was happy to see the fans be a part of her team’s amazing journey.

“That was very cool,” Cannon said. “It was nice seeing everyone cheering us on.”

Now, the team is already focusing on making another Final Four run next year.

“We have a great future coming next year,” Falloon said. “We hope to be back next year.”