Considering their inexperience and injury problems, the Cougars had a phenomenal 33-8 season. But it was injuries to Vest and Miller, the only two regular pitchers, during the Region V Tournament that might have cost the Cougars a chance to advance to the NAIA Tournament.

"I am extremely pleased with our performance," coach Wendy Spratt said. "We had the toughest schedule of any team in the region and by far the toughest schedule in the history of Columbia College."

The season included the school’s first-ever wins at Spring Hill and Mobile and a five-game winning streak to close out the year.

The Cougars had just two upperclassmen on the team. Junior Kim Meyer and senior Adrianne Talbert, a transfer from Culver-Stockton, were in their first year with the team. The Cougars had only four returning players, of which only two were starters.

"The battle we had to deal with all season was inexperience," said Vest, an Region V all-tournament selection. "The schedule was the toughest ever at this school and that makes us overcoming our inexperience that much sweeter. We also had to find a position for everyone to play."

During the Region V Tournament, Vest pitched with a cracked rib and Miller played despite a strained back. Meyer, a junior college transfer, played with a cast over her broken pinky for the last two weeks. Catcher Danessa Mathes ended her season early by tearing her ACL. Center fielder Krista Viefhaus, a freshman, was nursing a sprained ankle at the end of the year, an injury that kept her out of more than 10 games earlier in the season.

It was almost as if the team was fighting a war, and as the season progressed, the injuries piled up. But the Cougars persevered.

Amy Seipp was the team’s quiet leader, not vocal in the clubhouse but dominant at the plate, and filled in admirably at catcher. Seipp, a freshman from O’Fallon, Ill., finished first on the team with 43 RBI, six home runs and 13 doubles. She was second in batting at .313 and was named to the Region V all-tournament team.

Freshman Megan Kuntze, the team’s leadoff hitter, converted from outfield to third base. Freshman Anna Seipp, Amy’s twin, went from third to the outfield.

Joining the Cougar squad next year are pitchers Megan Nikolenko and Monica Mueller. Utility players Destiny Perry and Heather Lang will also join the team, with Perry, a junior college transfer, challenging for the open spot at second base left by Talbert’s departure.

The Cougars will again rely on captain and all-region shortstop Kristina Jones for leadership, solid defensive play and power hitting.

Columbia College ended the season with a disappointing early exit from the American Midwest Conference tournament and lost to Evangel in Region V.

But with an experienced group of returnees and added depth at pitcher, the Cougars will be in position to challenge again.

"I’m really looking forward to next year," Vest said. "We’re bringing almost the exact same team back. It will be tough to replace Adrianne at second, but we’ll have a junior college transfer to help us and Mathes will be back.

"The new pitchers will give me and Jayne extra time to rest. I’m really excited about coming back next year."