RAPID CITY - The number of softball teams playing the game during the fall season throughout the Black Hills numbers just two, but both Rapid City Stevens and Central have had more than their fair share of success.

Although softball is still at the club sport level in South Dakota, strong summer ASA programs help Rapid City have two of the stronger programs in the state. However, the 2008 season will be a challenge for youthful teams for the Raiders and Cobblers.

"We have a very young team with only three returning starters and we graduated six starters, so we are starting over," said second-year Stevens head coach Rick DenHerder. "But we are bringing up kids that are now on the varsity that were on the JV state championship team."

Stevens finished as the state runner-up last season while Central took home a fourth place finish, but the Cobblers will have to replace seven seniors off of that squad. The Cobblers return four seniors, four juniors and three sophomores.

"I think we have a well-rounded squad, good on both offense and defense," sixth-year head coach Jim Ronfeldt said.

The Cobblers will rely on their seniors to lead the way, led by pitcher Camie Johnson who has been throwing for Ronfeldt for four years.

Ronfeldt believes his team will be effective at the plate this season and should be able to hit for power throughout the lineup.

DenHerder has a wealth of pitching to choose from and feels that his team has a chance to compete with anyone in the state. Senior Natasha Jeske, junior Kelsey Chambers and sophomores Sidney Larsen and Abbey Jensen will all have their chance in the pitching circle this season.

"Our goal is to try to play consistently through a short season," he said. "If we can bring it up to speed in the next week our goal will be to keep it there. This will be an interesting season because a number of teams in the state are starting over with young teams.

"Stevens has managed to bring home several state titles so it goes without saying that there is a little pressure on the Stevens program."

Both teams face the challenges of bringing a team of girls - many of whom play against each other during the summer - together to be successful in a season that lasts just six weeks.

"They are used to different styles of coaching. You've got pitchers and catchers working together who don't normally work together, infielders who aren't used to playing with each other," DenHerder said. "You are bringing together a group of girls for a short season and it is a challenge."

More schools are adding softball each season and while the Rapid City schools are the only area high school varsity softball teams, Sturgis will field a junior varsity squad this season.

"We are still just a club sport but the girls can still letter, and they are proud as anyone to wear the school colors," DenHerder said.

Stevens and Central, who play their home games at the Parkview Softball Complex, open league play on Tuesday.