RAPID CITY - Rapid City Stevens enters the 2008 state softball tournament looking to take that final step. A year after finishing as the runner-up to Sioux Falls Lincoln, the Raiders are hoping to finish the job this season.

Both the Raiders and Rapid City Central enter the state tournament believing it is a title nearly any team can win because of the amount of youth dominating teams this season.

"It has been an unusual year in high school softball looking at the results and scores because everyone seems to be fairly close," Stevens head coach Rick DenHerder said. "There doesn't seem to be that dominant team. It has been pretty evenly matched."

The state tournament begins Friday and concludes Saturday at Dunham Park Complex. The Cobblers will face Sioux Falls O'Gorman at 10 a.m. and the Raiders will take on Yankton at 11:30 a.m. in the varsity A tournament where teams are guaranteed three games.

"We have played O'Gorman twice this season and played them well," Central head coach Jim Ronfeldt said. "I am pleased with the draw we got for the tournament."

Ronfeldt feels his pitching will be strong heading into the tournament as he plans to use three pitchers led by Camie Johnson and use the strong defense his team has shown all season.

Both coaches said the key to their teams' success will be their ability to consistently hit the ball and string hits together.

Stevens' road to a possible championship game begins against Yankton with a possible matchup with Sioux Falls Washington looming in the second round.

"We started the season thinking Yankton and Washington were the teams to beat," DenHerder said. "Yankton hasn't been a powerhouse, but they have a great group of kids with strong pitching and some big bats."

The Raiders split with Yankton during the regular season with both games being tight contests.

DenHerder is looking for consistency from his offense, a strong defensive game and good pitching from a pair of pitchers in Kelsey Chambers and Sidney Larsen.

While the Raiders have owned the series against Central in recent meetings, the Cobblers faired better against East River teams this season giving the state tournament plenty of intrigue.

"We have a little glitch against Stevens but we played well against East River teams," Ronfeldt said. "The toughest competition will come from Washington and Stevens."