Inductees

When folks look at a road map of the Show-Me State and scan their eyes over mid-Missouri, they may spot the town of St. Elizabeth and move on.

However, if they’re looking at a state sports map? Well, you certainly couldn’t miss it.

From this rural community about 45 minutes south of Jefferson City – and right along a scenic stretch of Highway 52 – has risen a powerhouse on the diamond.

That is why the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame proudly inducted the St. Elizabeth High School Softball Program with the Class of 2021.

All told, the Lady Hornets have rolled up their sleeves, worked hard and proven that rural schools can be a force. After all, they have advanced to seven Final Fours – which includes four state championships. Those state titles cover the years 1992, 1994, 2002 and 2011. They finished as a state runner-up in 1993 and 1997, and were fourth in 1991.

Much of the tradition was built during the era of St. Elizabeth coach Diane Juergensmeyer (MSHOF 2015) from 1980 to 2010, with Peggy Wieberg guiding the 2011 state championship team.

The successes are downright breathtaking: State quarterfinal berths in 1985, 1989, 1995, 2001, 2013 and 2019. Along the way, the softball program has won nine conference championships and 20 district titles (1978, 1979, 1985, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2019).

Overall, it’s a story of a community pulling together to make something special, of parents putting in the financial resources and time in the youth summer seasons, of players enhancing their skillsets by joining travel ball clubs and of expectations only growing.

“When I arrived, the state was just starting to have a district tournament,” Juergensmeyer said. But there was a hunger there to make a dent. “If we had the high-powered bats (of today) when we started out, we would have hit a lot of home runs. In the 70s, we just played neighboring schools for fun, with no conference titles.”

However, the transformation wasn’t far away.

“In the mid-80s, teams started getting competitive and traveling,” Juergensmeyer said. “What really helped a lot was that, in the springs and summers, the girls were really working on the fundamentals.”

The 1978 and 1979 district titles had always lingered in the community’s mind, so when the 1985 team reached the state quarterfinals that fall season, eyes really opened. That team rallied for two wins to win districts, and then won the sectional.

“Back then, we didn’t play a lot of games,” said Mary Lou Rehagen, who remembers the quarterfinal loss to Ashland setting the stage for the road ahead.

“I think Diane realized that, to make us better, we had to play better competition,” Rehagen said.

Since then, St. Elizabeth has been unafraid to schedule Class 3, Class 4 and Class 5 schools. It wasn’t about an unblemished record. It was about being battle-ready for the postseason.

The 1991 team and its fourth-place finish kick-started an incredible decade. That team included Paula Eddy, the sister battery of Glenda and Sheila Kemna Oligschlaeger, Pam Lepper, Vicky Wobbe, Denise Woehr, Lisa Lucas and Nikki Hammond.

With the Kemna sisters as the battery again, the 1992 Lady Hornets surged. They won by a combined 25-1 in the final two games.

The 1994 team upset 19-0 and top-ranked Princeton in the semifinals, tying the game when the Lady Hornets were down to their final strike. It was Nikki Luetkemeyer’s tying double that sent the game into extra innings, where Sheila Kemna’s home run won it in the bottom of the eighth, 4-3. That team finished 18-5.

The 2002 team was 18-9, closing with commanding semifinal and championship victories with a combined score of 18-6.

The 2011 team finished 23-5, with wins against three notable larger schools: Helias Catholic, Francis Howell Central and Blair Oaks. That team featured pitcher Erin Struemph, who had a school career record 967 strikeouts, along with Maggie Sholes, Kelly Heckemeyer and Morgan Wilde.

That season had numerous twists and turns, including an extra inning win in the sectional round. The game was rain-delayed, which forced St. Elizabeth to spend a total of 12 hours on the road on back-to-back days. The team’s favorite bat also broke during warm-ups prior to the state semifinal game.

“Even with all of these challenges, this team dedicated themselves to softball and were rewarded with a state championship,” Wieberg said.

Overall, what a run it’s been.