“I had faith in my team,”

Kenley Wessel

With her Montgomery County softball team leading Elsberry 1-0 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh in the Class 2, District 2 finals on Oct. 22, Kenley Wessel didn’t show any signs of panic.

“I had faith in my team,” the sophomore infielder said.

After the last out was made at 7:23 p.m., Wessel was among numerous players celebrating and hugging each other at the Elsberry Ball Park Association fields. It was the Wildcats’ second district championship in program history and their first since 2018.

“The fact that I was part of it, it’s so awesome,” Wessel said. “To be with all of these girls and to have all of these fans here to support us and love us, it’s so surreal.”

MCHS. the No. 2 seed in the six-team district tournament, improved to 27-5 and advanced to the state quarterfinals against Chaffee on Oct. 25. The Wildcats’ last trip to the state quarterfinals was in 2018, when they lost to East Carter 3-2 in eight innings.

Elsberry, which won distinct titles in each of the last six years, finished its season at 23-6. The Indians, the No. 1 seed, had runners at second and third in the bottom of the seventh before Zoie Foster flied out to MCHS right fielder Skylar Bethmann for the final out of the game. 

The Wildcats avenged the 10-0 loss to Elsberry on Oct. 7 in which they committed eight errors and had just two hits. MCHS didn’t make any defensive errors in the district finals.

“I felt like when we won it in 2018, it was kind of a surprise,” MCHS coach Audra Heimer said. “This year, we knew we could do it. Just a year of having 27 wins, that’s historic. This was the team to do it and I’m glad they did. You take that 10-0 loss to Elsberry and we come back and win 1-0 and that’s huge.”

The Wildcats advanced to the district finals by edging North Callaway 2-0 in the semifinals on Oct. 20. Reese Hill picked up victories in both games against North Callaway and Elsberry.

“Reese has probably pitched the best two games she has pitched all year,” Heimer said. “She pitches when it comes to clutch. She’s been clutch and it’s been amazing and she has done what she needs to do.” 

Wessel’s strong baserunning and defense at third base helped the Wildcats clear the district hurdle for the first time in seven years. She scored the only run in the game in the top of the fifth and helped make a huge double play in the bottom of the sixth.

With one out in the fifth, Wessel walked and stole second. With two outs, Trinity Brown struck out, but reached first on a passed ball by the Indians, allowing Wessel to score.

“If Kenley is not at second base, she doesn’t score,” Heimer said. “Kenley being on second base was huge. Did I send her? No. But her stealing and her getting there and then Trinity being aware enough to run. That’s a freshman and sophomore. Them being able to do that was just huge.”

Wessel got a pep talk from Heimer while she was hitting in the fifth.

“It was so helpful,” Wessel said. “Heimer always helps me be a better player and a better person and pick myself up even when I don’t think I can.”

In the bottom of the sixth, Foster laid down a bunt and was thrown out at first by MCHS pitcher Reese Hill. Then, Sam Turner fired a throw to Wessel at third base and Wessel tagged out Lizzy Mound to complete the double play.

Then, the umpires gathered for a brief conference before making the official call that Mound was out at third.

“I told Reese that I actually was going to pray this time, so I sat there and I prayed,” Wessel said. “Then, they said, ‘Kenley, you can stop praying now.’ I was like, ‘OK, OK.’ I was so excited and hyped.”

Wessel is playing in her second varsity season with the Wildcats. She is enjoying her best season with the team, batting .263 with a home run and 23 RBIs. At one point of the season, she was batting .444.

“Kenley has been huge,” Heimer said. “She probably wished she could have hit the ball more late in the season. She’s been a rock for us. She’s there, she’s always happy and she’s ready to pick everybody up.”

Wessel hit a home run in the Wildcats’ come-from-behind, 7-6 win over North Callaway on Sept. 25. She drove in six runs in three games of the MCHS Fall Classic on Aug. 30. A year ago, she had just five hits. 

Wessel said she is thrilled to be part of a team that set a school record for most wins, won its first Eastern Missouri Conference title and added another district title to its banner.

“This team has shaped me to be who I am and the player that I am,” Wessel said. “I want to thank Heimer and Coach Mo (assistant coach Don Moultrie) so much. It’s just so fun to play this sport. Even when we’re down, we can always pick each other up. It’s a great team to be a part of.”