September 11, 2024 – At a press conference held at the Holiday Inn Executive Center in Columbia, MO, it was announced that the 1988-2007 Putnam County Softball Era will be inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2024.
Nestled in the rural heart of north-central Missouri, Putnam County is home to the Putnam County Lady Midgets, a high school softball team that carved out an extraordinary legacy in the state. The town of Unionville, with a population of about 2,000, is the largest town in the county and hosts the only school in the area. Like many rural counties in northern Missouri, Putnam has faced a declining population over the past century, but its high school softball program achieved unprecedented success during this period.
In October 1987, the Lady Midgets narrowly lost a 1-0 district championship game. This would be their last district loss for over two decades, as they went on to win the next 20 consecutive district titles, including 48 straight district victories. The incredible streak ended in 2008 with a 1-0 loss to eventual district champion Highland.
Coach Max Mothersbaugh led the program from 1988 to 1998, establishing Putnam County as one of the premier high school softball programs in Missouri. In his first season, he guided the Lady Midgets to a district title and a fourth-place finish at the state final four. Over ten seasons, Coach Mothersbaugh's teams made nine final four appearances, emphasizing a challenging regular-season schedule that prepared them for postseason success.
In 1998, Coach Mike Schmidli took over and extended the district championship streak for another decade. Under his leadership, the Lady Midgets continued to dominate, capturing two state titles in 1998 and 2003. During this 20-year era, the team was known for strong pitching, stellar defense, solid hitting, and aggressive base running. They finished with a record of 414 wins and 82 losses for an .833 winning percentage. Within the Tri-Rivers Conference, they posted a 129-11 record for a .921 winning percentage, and they remained undefeated in district play with a 48-0 record.
Over the course of this period, the Lady Midgets claimed:
- 16 conference titles
- 20 district titles
- 12 final four appearances
- 3 state championships (1990, 1998, 2003)
The program's success was built on the dedication of the student-athletes, the unwavering support of their families, and the commitment of the community and school district. Significant improvements to the softball facilities during this time further fueled the pride and support for the team.
Memorable moments during the 48-game district winning streak include the 1998 and 2003 state championship runs, where both teams entered the district tournament as the third seed but emerged as state champions. In 2006, the defending state champions, the Highland Cougars, were upended by the Lady Midgets in a 5-1 victory that kept their district streak alive.
Looking back 14 years after the streak ended, the legacy of the Putnam County Lady Midgets remains unmatched. Although they have finished second in district play five times since 2008, their accomplishments during this era are a testament to the extraordinary dedication and talent of everyone involved.
To celebrate this historic induction, we invite all former Putnam County softball players and coaches to return for Homecoming weekend on October 4, 2024, where we will recognize the 1988-2007 Lady Midgets as part of the festivities. Coaches and softball players are invited to ride or walk in the Homecoming parade. The North softball field will be named after Coach Max Mothersbaugh and the PCHS Softball Complex will be named after Coach Michael Schmidli. Ribbon cutting for these celebrations will begin at 4:00 pm at the softball fields. The official induction will take place on October 20, 2024, in Columbia, MO.
Congratulations to the entire Putnam County softball family! We are #PutnamProud of you!
Stay tuned for more details about this special event.
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