The Dell Rapids Youth Softball program had a very successful weekend of state tournaments July 12th – 14th in Sioux Falls.
The Dell Rapids DeKalb 12U team took home the state title going undefeated all weekend and only allowing six total runs. They won their opening game on Friday afternoon over Siouxland Fastpitch by a score of 14-2. They followed that win with another win on Friday over Lennox by a score of 13-0. Dell Rapids continued to roll on Saturday with a win over Tyndall 11-2 and a win over SWAT 6-2. SWAT battled back to get another chance at Dell Rapids, but Dell Rapids blanked SWAT 3-0 for the championship.
Head coach Jenny Alderson said, “These girls played their hearts out! They are only going to get stronger as the years go by. The Dells program has made the players who they are today, and I would like to thank the parents and the community for the opportunity to be a part of a wonderful program. Also I would like to thank our sponsors Casey Scheidt from Dekalb and Seth Van’t Hof from Taxidermy & Nutrient for helping the girls.”
The Dell Rapids 10U team placed second in their state tournament after a tremendous battle through the loser’s bracket. Dell Rapids lost their opening game of the tournament to Dakota Valley 12-11. They then had to play six games just to reach the championship game. Dell Rapids marched through the bottom half of the bracket beating Extream U10 11-8, Post 22 U10 11-10, Spearfish Toxic 8-3, Strom 15-3, Liberty Sluggers 17-1, and the Freeman Flycats 8-5. That put Dell Rapids in the championship game against the Road Runners from Mitchell, but the Road Runners ended the Dell Rapids run with a 9-1 victory.
The Dell Rapids Ace Hardware 18U also played their state tournament in Sioux Falls. They finished with a 2-2 record and a fifth place finish. Dell Rapids lost to Winner Purple 13-1, defeated Sioux Falls Inferno 9-7 and the Clearfield Sandburs 7-5, but lost to the Venom 12-9 to end their tournament.