The defense of the state championship for Dell Rapids took another step in the right direction with a Region 2B Championship on Saturday, July 27th. Dell Rapids defeated Madison 4-2 for the title to earn a spot in the 2019 South Dakota Legion Class B State Tournament.
Dell Rapids struck first in the bottom of the first inning. Carter Gullickson hit a single to left field, and Eddie Price drove him home with a double later in the inning for the early 1-0 lead. Madison took the lead in the top of the second inning. They scored two runs on two passed balls with two outs to take the 2-1 lead. The score remained 2-1 in favor of Madison until the bottom of the fifth inning.
Gullickson tied the game with a solo home run to center field to lead off the inning for Dell Rapids. Jon Wilhelmsen, Eddie Price, and Jake Rechtenbaugh strung together three straight singles. Wilhelmsen scored on the Rechtenbaugh hit to regain the lead at 3-2. Price scored the fourth run on a fielder’s choice on a ball in play by Brandon Geraets.
Wilhelmsen kept Madison off balance in six strong innings. He gave up two runs, both unearned, on one hit while walking three and striking out 15 batters. Rechtenbaugh finished off the game with a 1-2-3 seventh inning including a strikeout.
Dell Rapids will open the state tournament on Friday, August 2nd against Lennox. It will be the final game of the day and will start approximately 7:00 p.m. The legion state tournament is being held in Lennox through Tuesday, August 6th.
2019 Legion State Tournament