It has been a wild ride, but the Oakville High softball team is right where it wants to be — in the state final four.

The Tigers overcame all sorts of adversity late last week, winning three games in the span of about 36 hours to earn their fifth state trip.

In the Class 4 semifinals scheduled for today at the Heritage Park Softball Complex in St. Joseph, Oakville (22-5) takes on Kearney (29-2) at 1:30 p.m. while Parkway Central (22-7) and Jefferson City (22-1) square off at 2:30.

The title game is slated for Saturday at 3 p.m.

"This is what we've worked for all season, and I really feel good about our chances," said Oakville's Maggie Ruckenbrod, a fourth-year starter at catcher. "What we went through last week — playing in the cold and rain at 10:30 at night and taking those long bus rides to Troy — really helped bring us together. There's a special feeling surrounding this team right now and hopefully we can keep it going for another couple of games."

In the midst of last week's hectic and ever-changing schedule, Ruckenbrod, a University of Louisville recruit, became the state's career hits leader, picking up Nos. 118 and 119 in a 12-1 sectional rout of Hillsboro. The record had been set last season by Webb City's Nicole Hudson.

"It's great to have the record, but it's something I'm sure I'll enjoy more after the season," the 17-year-old said. "Right now, I'm pretty focused on winning two more games."

Ruckenbrod, who enters the weekend hitting .505 with 14 doubles and 21 RBIs, is one of five Tigers who also started two years ago when 30-0 Oakville fell 1-0 to Lafayette in the Class 4 title game in Columbia. Other players back from that squad include seniors Marissa Simon (.341, 14 RBIs) and Mackenzie Madigan (.295, 19 RBIs) and juniors Julie Kernen (.446, 4 HR, 22 RBIs) and Remy Edwards (.333, 15 RBIs). Edwards, a starter at second then, is now the team's main pitcher; she's 19-3 with a 0.82 earned-run average.

"Remy and I have become really good friends and we work extremely well together," Ruckenbrod said.

Oakville faced Kearney earlier this season in the Blue Springs South Tournament, losing 2-0. But Tigers coach Rich Sturm Jr. sees that as a plus.

"You can never discount experience," the coach said. "Having the five starters who've been through the state experience helps, and so does the fact that we've seen Kearney. Don't get me wrong, they're an outstanding team — nobody goes 29-2 by accident — with a very good pitcher. But at least we go in with some idea of what to expect. We know a little about the pitcher we're facing and hopefully we can make the needed adjustments."

Added Ruckenbrod: "We really have to focus on putting the ball in play and forcing (Kearney) to make plays. Last time, we had way too many strikeouts.

"But we know what needs to be done and I'm confident we'll find a way."

Rallying from a 4-1 deficit with no one on and two out in the bottom of the seventh to knock off Zumwalt South 5-4 in the quarterfinals, Parkway Central enters the weekend with all sorts of momentum. Top players for the Colts include junior pitcher Cassie Rupel (15-6; .484, 12 steals), senior third baseman Amanda Mehrsheikh (.463, 32 RBIs) and junior outfielder Emily Greenstein (.356, 20 RBIs.).

This is Central's first state softball trip since 1987.