Gracie Cobb, Dylan Topel, Skylar Bethmann and Hailey Meyer had their biggest trip of their high school softball careers on Oct. 31.

The Montgomery County seniors played in the Class 2 Final Four at Meador Park in Springfield and helped the Wildcats place fourth. Even though their careers didn’t end with a victory, the seniors were thrilled with the experience of playing at the state event. It was the first time MCHS played in the Final Four.

“I enjoyed it a lot,” Meyer said. “I think we have grown a lot since our freshman year. This year, there was a lot of history made and it’s a good way to leave.”

The seniors were the first MCHS players to receive the fourth-place trophy after the Wildcats lost 6-0 to Mid-Buchanan in the third-place game. 

“I was in a mix of emotions,” Meyer said. “I was excited to see that we made it this far. If you had asked me at the beginning of the season, I wouldn’t know what to say if you told us that we would make it this far.”

The four seniors competed with the Wildcats all four years. They finished as the winningest senior class with 77 victories. They helped their team win a school-record 28 games.

“They made a huge impact,” MCHS coach Audra Heimer said. “A lot of them played varsity for four years. They’re going to be big shoes to fill. We have some people to do it, but it’s going to take some time.”

Meyer said she started playing with her three senior teammates when they were in middle school.

“I was very thankful for my coaches and all they taught me on and off the field and how much I’ve grown with these girls,” she said.

MCHS lost 16-0 to South Harrison in the state semifinals before losing to Mid-Buchanan. Both schools are from the western part of the state.

“I think that they’re the best teams that we’ve seen and faced bigger schools than we did,” Meyer said. “We didn’t play the best in the first game, but we definitely went back at them in the second game.”

All four players turned in strong seasons. They combined to hit .302. 

Topel had the highest average with a .333 and earned first-team all-Eastern Missouri Conference honors. She also had two hits in the Final Four, a single against South Harrison and a double against Mid-Buchanan. Topel hit a walk-off, two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh in the Wildcats’ 7-5 win over Chaffee in the state quarterfinals on Oct. 25.

Cobb finished with a .330 batting average. She reached base twice against South Harrison. Cobb delivered the game-winning hit in the Wildcats’ 8-7 win over Community R-6 in the senior night game and MCHS’ 3-2 victory over Louisiana that clinched an EMO championship. She also earned second-team all-EMO honors.

Bethmann hit .323. She finished with 23 hits, including a double against Mid-Buchanan. She caught the final out at right field in the Wildcats’ 1-0 win over Elsberry in the district finals and finished with six putouts against Chaffee.

Meyer finished with 21 hits.