BENTON -- Getting to the Class 2 final four has never been a problem for the Kelly Lady Hawks. It's something they've done two of the past three seasons.
Taking the final leap to capture the state title, however, has been something that's eluded the Lady Hawks since the 2004 season.
With that in mind, Kelly enters the fall with the core of a young, but veteran squad that looks poised for another deep run into the postseason.
"My speech at the beginning of the year is that things haven't changed in 20 years," Lady Hawks' head coach Rhonda Ratledge said. "You have to take it one game at a time and see what we need to work on each game to help us improve.
"You look at state and you know what you have to prepare for, but that's not the only game. You have to win all these others in order to get there."
Kelly brings back all but two everyday starters from an offense last season that combined for a .335 batting average while driving in 178 runs on their way to a 23-5 record.
In all, four seniors were lost to graduation in Jessica Worth, Sydney Vinyard, Michaela Gean and Darbe Backfisch. Worth and Vinyard were regulars in the order while Gean and Backfisch saw their share of playing time.
"It'll effect our lineup," Ratledge said of the departures. "Anytime you lose seniors like that that were power hitters, especially two of them in your lineup of course you're going to miss them.
"That makes them difficult to replace, especially when you're trying to replace them with young freshman who may not be as developed as those girls were."
Playing freshman has never been something Ratledge has shied away from and she'll have three this year in Anna Hughes, Natalie Gross and Emmy Bowling who she expects to contribute right away.
"They're good, hard working girls who are very easy to coach," Ratledge said of her freshmen. "It doesn't take a whole lot to tell them what I want and they pick it up very quick. They're very coordinated.
"One of the three is a lefty. They all have speed and aren't afraid to get dirty."
The team boasts only one senior this year in shortstop Jade Rampley, who has started in each of her first three seasons.
As strong as the offense looks, Kelly's biggest strength once again appears to be on the mound. While most teams rely on one ace, Kelly is blessed with two of the best arms in southeast Missouri in junior Kristy Brucker and sophomore Alexis Dock.
The duo pitched all 181 innings last year while combining for a 2.09 earned-run-average. Ratledge expects and even better year from her two aces.
"The girls played a lot of ball games over the summer to help prepare them," Ratledge said. "They saw 50 to 60 ball games this summer and it was Brucker and Dock throwing all summer.
"They definitely have stepped it up and improved on their pitches. Whether it's their rise ball, drop ball, knuckle or whatever."
Dock is coming off one of the best freshman seasons in recent memory on her way to be being selected the Standard Democrat Player of the Year.
In the circle, she posted a 2.40 ERA in 102 innings where she struck out 78 batters and held opposing offenses to a .197 batting average.
At the plate she hit .407 and had a .439 on-base-percentage from the third spot in the lineup. She also drove in 25 runs and scored 23 times. Her average went up to .448 with runners in scoring position.
Dock and Brucker will once again hit near the top of the order with Samantha Ratledge and Stephanie Worth among others coming back off strong offensive years.
"We're really excited," said Ratledge. "We only have one senior and that young group of girls have now moved up into their junior year so we're looking forward to a good season."