Jillian Weekley was on her way to another outstanding season with the Montgomery County softball team when she received devastating news in early October – she was out of the season.

The Montgomery County junior suffered a season-ending fracture of the pars interarticularis, a bony structure of the vertebrae, forcing her to cheer on her team from the bench..

“It was absolutely hard-wrenching,” Weekley said. “I felt like they pulled my heart out of my chest and threw it at my face. It was hard, but I just realized that I still have to be there for my team and I can’t leave them in this hard time.”

Weekley’s role as cheerleader was a memorable one. The Wildcats finished with a school-record 28 victories, captured their Eastern Missouri Conference title, won their first district championship in seven years and reached the Class 2 Final Four for the first time.

“It’s hard not being on the field with my team and it’s hard not being able to do anything, but I just try to be the best cheerleader I can be for them,” Weekley said.

Last year, Weekley earned all-EMO honors for the first time after hitting .330 with a home run and 15 RBIs.

This season, Weekley played 20 games and was batting .418 with 19 RBIs and was 4-0 on the mound before she got hurt. She went 2 for 3 in her last game on Oct. 1 against Van-Far. 

“Jill getting hurt was awful,” MCHS coach Audra Heimer said. “It took us a few games and a few weeks to figure out how we were going to be in our lineup and who was going to play where.”

Weekley credits players such as senior Gracie Cobb and sophomore Sullee Falloon for turning in solid efforts in her absence.

“Gracie hasn’t played infield since her freshman year and she stepped up and she did it for some games,” Weekley said. “Heimer decided to switch things around and Sullee stepped up big time. I think Sullee has been doing great.”

Weekley said she was emotional when she and her team took a picture at the Class 2 Final Four. She had to put her uniform on for the photo.

“It was hard,” Weekley said. “I was pretty upset that morning putting it on for that picture. It brings it all back, making me realize that I can’t be out there with the team. But it’s all right.” 

Weekley said even though she couldn’t play, she enjoyed the experience of being in the Final Four with her teammates.

“Being here is insane,” she said. “I went out about halfway through the season. Everybody felt the weight of it, but they all picked it up and they all helped me carry it. It’s so amazing and I’m so proud of them.”

The Wildcats went 7-6 in Weekley’s absence, six of those wins were by two runs or less. Among the victories were a 3-2 win over Louisiana on Oct. 13 that clinched the Wildcats their first EMO title, a 1-0 victory over Elsberry in the district finals and a 7-5 win over Chaffee in the state quarterfinals.

“I think for some of the games we played that have been close, I might have been more anxious than the girls on the field,” Weekley said. “But I try to keep them up and try to be loud.”

Weekley plans to visit the doctors in early November. She said she hopes to return to the softball diamond soon. 

“Hopefully, they’ll clear me and I’ll start some physical therapy,” said Weekley, who plans to play for the Premier select team with teammate Anna Klekamp. “Then around January, I’ll start getting back into it.”