The Dell Rapids 15/16 Teener team finished their regular season with six games in the last two weeks. They played three road games the week of July 6th and finished the season with three home games the week of July 13th.
The first road game was played on Monday, July 6th in Humboldt against West Central. West Central won that game by a score of 4-3. Dell Rapids scored a run in the top of the fourth inning, but West Central scored three times for a 3-1 lead. Both teams got a run in the sixth inning and West Central led 4-2 heading into the final inning. Dell Rapids was able to get one run, but the rally was stopped short of the come back.
Will Jaton had three hits in the game, while Dylan Mathis had two hits. CJ Smith and Caleb Kittelson both had a hit in the game as well.
The second road game of the week was in Chancellor on Wednesday, July 8th. Dell Rapids came home with an 8-1 victory over Chancellor. After the first three innings went scoreless, Dell Rapids scored four times in the top of the fourth inning. Chancellor scored a run in the bottom of the fifth, but Dell Rapids added a run in the sixth and three more in the seventh on their way to the win.
Mathis had three hits in the game. Jaton, Smith, and Joe Rechtenbaugh all had two hits each. Even Nelson, Josh Deknikker, Landon Ruesink, and Kamren Koster all had one hit each.
The final road game of the year came on Friday, July 10th when Dell Rapids traveled to Salem. Once again Dell Rapids came home with a win, this time a 6-4 victory. Dell Rapids scored the first three runs and never looked back. They got a run in the top of the second inning and two more in the top of the fourth inning for a 3-0 lead. Salem got one run in the bottom of the fourth, but Dell Rapids extended the lead back to three at 4-1 after a run in the top of the sixth. Salem got a run in the bottom of the sixth, but Dell Rapids put the game out of reach after two more runs in the top of the seventh inning.
Six different Dell Rapids hitters had a hit in the game. Ruesink, Brayden Pankonen, Jaton, Smith, Deknikker, and Kremer all collected a hit.
The first of three straight home games on consecutive nights was on Monday, July 13th against the Beresford 15s. Dell Rapids won their third straight game with an 11-8 win over Beresford. Beresford scored two in the top of the first, but that was the only lead they would hold. Dell Rapids scored four times in the bottom of the first, two more in the second, and four more again in the third for a 10-2 lead. Beresford tallied three runs in the top of fourth and three in the top of the fifth to pull within two at 10-8. Dell Rapids got their last run in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Dell Rapids belted 15 hits in the game. Mathis and Ruesink each had three hits apiece. Pankonen, Jaton, and Nelson all had two hits each. Kittelson, Rechtenbaugh, and Kremer each finished with a hit.
The second home game of the final week was on Tuesday, July 14th against West Central. Dell Rapids was able to avenge the loss and win their fourth straight game. Dell Rapids defeated West Central 7-1. Dell Rapids scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning and three more in the bottom of the second for an early 7-0 lead. West Central got their lone run in the top of the sixth inning.
Jaton and Kittelson both had two hits each. Pankonen, Ruesink, Mathis, Smith, Rechtenbaugh, and Braden Fersdahl all had one hit each.
The final home and regular season game of the year came on Wednesday, July 15th. Dell Rapids hosted Volga, but Volga ended the win streak by defeating Dell Rapids 8-5.
Dell Rapids will now play in the Region 2A tournament which will be held in Volga on Wednesday, July 22nd through Friday, July 24th. Dell Rapids will play Madison Black in the first game of the tournament on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m.