MT. CARMEL, Ill. -- Jade Montgomery played for NJCAA Hall of Fame coach Paul Schnarre for two years at Wabash Valley College, earning All-American honors in 2018, before transferring to Eastern Illinois University. 

Montgomery returns to WVC this year as head coach of the Lady Warriors. She hopes to bring some of the Schnarre magic back to the program. 

"We have always been known as a good-name program. And that starts with him," said Montgomery of Schnarre, the all-time winningest softball coach in NJCAA history with over 1,400 wins to his credit and 10 trips to the junior college national tournament. 

"I had the opportunity to play for him and honestly, I want to make him proud and keep up what he has done here at this school. 

"Obviously, he was doing something right all those years. He had an amazing reputation with this program. To play for him and know what he did, and to keep a lot of that here helps me build a foundation." 

Montgomery, who no doubt will be one of the youngest head coaches in the country, has long-time assistant coach Mark Colvin with her in the dugout, as well as Schnarre on occasion. 

She is excited about her team, and about the opportunity in general. "It's a little nerve wracking, but it's exciting," Montgomery said. "I've got a great group of girls here." 

There are 11 sophomores on the 18-woman roster. Mongomery feels one of the strengths of her first team will be on defense. 

"In the fall, we got to the point where it was all starting to connect," she said. 

Pitching will be the biggest question mark heading into the season. The Lady Warriors lost three hurlers to transfers and have one fully healthy returnee plus two pitchers on the mend from surgery, according to Montgomery. 

In the meantime, "the offense will have to step up and find ways to score runs," she said. 

Pitcher Krysten White, a righthander from Robinson, was 1-2 in the circle last year but is recovering from elbow surgery. The promising news is she has thrown one inning in a pre-season scrimmage already this year. 

Also on the way back is sophomore righthander Lexi Burris, who made 15 starts last year, compiling a 5-9 record. She had shoulder surgery in late summer, but Montgomery is buoyed by what she has seen from her. 

Burris threw four innings in a recent scrimmage, giving up just one hit and one run. With a "dirty" screwball that she can deliver at all heights, Montgomery added: "I am excited to see where we can get her by the end of this season." 

Clay City product Demi Wolfe will be used much more than the lefthanded freshman had figured. "She came in thinking she wouldn't have to throw that much," said Montgomery, adding that since the staff shakeup, Wolfe has amped up her readiness. "She has worked endlessly. From Day One to now, she looks like a different player." 

Emma Holder will get the start at catcher. Last year, she hit .237 in 38 plate appearances, and had seven RBIs. 

Grayville sophomore Kamille Johnson (.307 last year with 13 RBIs) will also see time behind the plate. But "she is also great in the infield," Montgomery says, and will spend some time at second base. 

Freshman Abby Schreiner has been so solid at third base that "it will be hard to move her from that spot," but Montgomery says she is capable behind the plate as well. 

Jayley Akers, a transfer from Lincoln Trail, looks to bring a veteran presence to shortstop, in addition to a big bat. She led the Lady Statesmen last year with 15 home runs and hit .307. 

Du Quoin freshman Abbi Mocaby, who looked promising during the fall campaign, will also see playing time at short. 

One of the top returning bats for the Lady Warrior offense will start at first base. Castle sophomore Marisa Lane is also one of the "real leaders" of the club, according to Montgomery. Lane hit .342 with eight home runs and 34 RBIs a year ago. 

Gracee Sullivan, another sophomore being counted on for some big days at the plate, will spend much of her time at second base. She hit .333 last spring with six homers and 26 RBIs. As a line drive hitter, Montgomery plans to use her near the top of the order, to set the table for the bats that follow. 

In the outfield, sophomore Kinley Edwards and her "rocket for an arm," according to Montgomery, will return to left field. Edwards hit .286 last year. 

Freshman Kinsly Heichelbech will patrol center field. The fleet-footed lefthanded batter, adept at slap bunting her way on or flashing power, looks to be the leadoff hitter  

Montgomery is not as certain who will start in right field, but is leaning towards Evansville North sophomore Taylor Wilke, who hit .179 in 28 plate appearances a year ago. She has since beefed up her swing and has been promising at the plate during the pre-season. 

Sophomore Adie Nolley, who hit six home runs last year, is another player Montgomery hopes can be a force to be reckoned with on offense. 

While most observers would pick Lake Land, ranked 18th in the NJCAA pre-season poll, as the team to beat in the Great Rivers Athletic Conference again, Montgomery has been impressed with how much stronger the entire league looks since her time as a player. 

"Our conference has gotten strong," she said. "There are some teams who have shocked me in the fall that I have seen. I want to see us progress with them, and still be able to fight and come out on top." 

The Lady Warriors, who opened the season in Tennessee on Friday with a split on the day (a win over Jackson College and a loss to Volunteer State), do not get any breaks from the schedule. It gets tougher as the pre-conference part of the season goes along. 

"It's going to be challenging these first few weeks," Montgomery said. "But I think that's good for the girls." 

The biggest of the challenges could come on March 4th at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Georgia. WVC is paired against Florida SouthWestern State, the No. 1 ranked team in the Division I pre-season poll.