The Linn Lady Wildcats had every reason to believe they were finding their best softball at the right time. Consecutive victories over state-ranked opponents to close the regular season had given the team confidence heading into district competition, and first-year head coach Jason Dudenhoeffer was encouraged by how far his players had come.

That momentum did not carry into Monday’s Class 2, District 4 semifinal against Iberia, however, as the Lady Rangers limited Linn to two hits and pulled away for an 8-2 victory at South Callaway High School.

The loss ended Linn’s season at 17-10, but Dudenhoeffer’s assessment of his first year extended well beyond the disappointment of the final game.

“I mean, it was growing pains throughout the season for coaches and players,” Dudenhoeffer said. “We was all new to each other for the most part, but I think we all adapted to each other, and I thought we played some pretty good ball at times. Some really good ball, actually.”

The Lady Wildcats had reason for optimism entering the tournament after closing their regular season with victories over St. Elizabeth and Eugene, both ranked among the top 10 in Class 1.

“Especially we had two big [wins],” Dudenhoeffer said. “Our last two games were against [St. Elizabeth] and Eugene, which were ranked in top 10 in 1A, and we had two big wins over them. And I thought everything was going good, but then we had a week off. We got rained out last week.”

The extended layoff interrupted Linn’s rhythm, and the Lady Wildcats struggled to generate offense against Iberia pitcher Paylyn DeVore.

Iberia took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but Linn answered with two runs in the bottom half to move ahead 2-1. Kenzy Hackmann and Emma Starke scored as the Lady Wildcats capitalized on Iberia defensive mistakes.

Unfortunately for Linn, those would be its only runs of the evening.

Iberia tied the contest in the third inning before moving ahead with two runs in the fourth. The Lady Rangers continued adding to their advantage and capped their scoring with a seventh-inning solo home run by Kya Yokum.

DeVore kept Linn’s offense in check throughout the game, allowing two hits and two unearned runs in seven innings while striking out eight and walking three.

Starke and Ava Voss accounted for Linn’s hits, each collecting a single. Hackmann, Starke, and Anna Peters drew walks, while Voss also reached after being hit by a pitch.

“We could not hit the ball,” Dudenhoeffer said. “I think we only had two hits. So if we did hit it, we hit it right to them, and they made a great play.”

The Lady Wildcats also faced an unexpected challenge in the pitching circle when Starke, who had been dealing with arm discomfort during the season, was unable to continue after two innings.

Dudenhoeffer said the issue had troubled Starke throughout the year, although two strong performances during Linn’s final week of regular-season play had raised hopes that she was returning to full strength.

Instead, Peters was called upon to take over in the circle, a role she had accepted throughout the season despite having gone several years without pitching.

“I think it’s mentally tough for the whole team when your pitcher goes out in the second inning, but Anna’s done a great job of stepping in all year and pitching when she needed,” Dudenhoeffer said. “I mean, she hasn’t pitched in two to three years until this year, so she’s done a phenomenal job of picking up when we needed her.”

Starke worked the first two innings, allowing two runs without surrendering a hit. Peters pitched the remaining five innings, allowing seven hits and six runs while striking out three.

Iberia finished with seven hits and nine walks, opportunities the Lady Rangers used to keep pressure on Linn’s defense. Yokum led the offense with a home run and two RBI, while Kily McElroy and Payson Duncan collected two hits apiece.

Although the Lady Wildcats could not overcome the deficit, their response to adversity provided Dudenhoeffer with something meaningful to take from the final game.

“I think they played as hard as they could till last out,” he said. “They did not give up.”

That determination reflected much of the progress Linn had made since the summer, when Dudenhoeffer began preparing for his first season with a roster featuring five seniors and five freshmen.

The transition presented challenges from the beginning. Linn was replacing a successful 25-7 team, and although the Lady Wildcats returned experienced players and offensive talent, they faced considerable uncertainty in the pitching circle.

Dudenhoeffer approached the assignment with an emphasis on teaching fundamentals, developing versatility, and helping players become comfortable in unfamiliar roles. Summer practices, camps, and open-field sessions provided opportunities to establish expectations while the new coaching staff became acquainted with its players.

Those efforts continued throughout the fall, sometimes producing impressive stretches of softball and sometimes exposing areas that needed improvement.

Early in the season, Linn demonstrated its potential with four victories in five games at the Sullivan tournament. Later, the Lady Wildcats won three of four contests at the Take the Lake Tournament, showing they could compete against quality opposition.

There were also frustrating losses, defensive breakdowns, and games in which the offense failed to deliver timely hits. Dudenhoeffer did not ignore those shortcomings, repeatedly emphasizing execution, concentration, and the importance of making routine plays.

As the season progressed, however, the players became more comfortable with their responsibilities and demonstrated an ability to respond to setbacks.

That development was particularly evident in the pitching staff. Peters’ willingness to return to the circle after several years away gave Linn an option it might otherwise have lacked, while Starke shouldered significant innings as the team worked to establish consistency.

The result was a team that continued competing through an uneven season and ultimately entered districts with consecutive victories over ranked opponents.

For Dudenhoeffer, the experience was also about building relationships. Taking over a program requires more than establishing a lineup or developing a practice schedule, especially when a new coach and his players are learning what to expect from one another.

Throughout the season, he consistently credited his players for their effort, recognized individual contributions, and remained willing to address mistakes without allowing them to define the team.

That balance was evident following the Iberia loss. Dudenhoeffer acknowledged that Linn had not produced the offensive performance necessary to advance, but he was equally clear about the effort his players gave even after the game began slipping away.

The Lady Wildcats will graduate five seniors, leaving important roles to fill as the program looks toward next season. Dudenhoeffer hopes additional younger players will become interested in softball and help Linn continue building on the progress made this fall.

“We just need some more younger ones coming up,” he said.

For the returning players, the experience gained this season offers a starting point. Several young Lady Wildcats were asked to contribute immediately, while others had opportunities to develop their skills and confidence alongside more experienced teammates.

The final scoreboard was disappointing, particularly after the promise Linn showed during the closing weeks of the regular season. Yet one difficult evening did not erase the victories, adjustments, and improvements that helped shape Dudenhoeffer’s first year.

The Lady Wildcats did not finish the season the way they hoped, but they finished it competing, and their coach made clear that the effort mattered.