By STEPHEN GLOVER

For the Call

It had been three years since the girls’ softball team at Oakville Senior High reached the Final Four of the Missouri state championship.

Back in 2001, the Tigers lost 3-0 to Ft. Zumwalt South in the state semifinal game before winning the third place game with a 3-0 win over Park Hill.

This year, Oakville suffered another state semifinal heartbreaker, dropping a 4-3 decision to Jefferson City last Friday.

“We battled them (Jefferson City) down to the last out,” Oakville head coach Rich Sturm told the Call. “You have to give credit to Jeff City because they did what they had to do to win.”

Oakville (23-4) took a 1-0 lead in the first inning as junior catcher Nicole Jost drove in sophomore designated hitter Kristin Nicoletti on a sacrifice fly.

Nicoletti went 2-4 atithe plate with two runs scored.

Jefferson City then scored four runs in the second inning — three on a controversial play in center field. Oakville center fielder Stephanie Lange dove for a ball hit by Jeff City’s Rachel Prewett. It appeared that Lange caught the ball, but the first base umpire signaled that the ball hit the ground. Three Jay base runners crossed the plate in a fury of confusion.

Oakville fought back in the third inning as Jost again drove in Nicoletti — this time on a single — and junior third baseman Lindsay Degonia hit a rocket off of the pitcher’s foot that drove in junior second baseman Miriam Wegmann

“I can’t tell you what Nikki Jost means to our program,” Sturm said. “We’re very fortunate to have her back next year.”

Oakville starting pitcher Alyssa Kernen pitched sixiinnings, giving up 10 hits and four runs. She walked one and struck out two in her first and only loss of the season.

“Alyssa was outstanding in both games,” Sturm said. “We wouldn’t have been able to do what we did without her.”

The Tigers played a familiar opponent in the third-place game of the state championship tournament, beating Suburban West Conference rival Marquette 4-3. The Tigers had beaten Marquette twice already this season.

“To have to beat Marquette three times in a season is tough to do,” Sturm said. “They are a very well coached team.”

Oakville jumped out to a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning as Jost doubled home Wegmann and then scored on a single from Degonia.

Jost finished 1-2 atithe plate, scoring one run and driving in two. Jost also had some solid plays defensively.

“She (Jost) made a catch against Mar-quette in the seventh where she slides on her shin guards and nearly goes face first into the backstop,” Sturm said. “It was incredible.”

After Marquette scored two runs in the top of the sixth, the Tigers scored two runs of their own as Jost hit a sacrifice fly to center field, which drove in Nicoletti and helped Wegmann advance to third.

Degonia’s sacrifice fly then sent Weg-mann home, capping a 4-3 Tiger victory over the Mustangs.

“I think that with this experience, the kids finally got a taste of what it takes to get to state,” Sturm said.

The Tigers are excited about next year. Sixiof Oakville’s 10 starters are returning to make another run for a state title.

“We’ve got a couple of juniors that saw limited playing time and we hope to fill those holes with them,” Sturm said. “We’ll definitely have to go out there and be ready for each and every game.”.