West Central and Dell Rapids combined to score seven runs in the seventh inning alone, and it was West Central that edged out Dell Rapids for the 13/14 State A VFW Teener Tournament title 7-5 at Rickeman Field on Sunday, July 24th.
Dell Rapids scored the first run of the game when Connor Libis scored on an errant throw to third in the bottom half of the first inning. West Central got on the board in the top of the third on a two-run single by Caden Ideker and took a 2-1 lead. West Central then added another run in the top of the sixth on a run scored by Truman Dick. Dell Rapids answered with a run in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI single by Brandon Geraets to cut the West Central lead to 3-2 heading to the top of the seventh inning. That’s when the offenses caught fire.
West Central scored four times in the top of the seventh on RBI hits by Ryan Healy, Ideker, Tyler Lundborg, and Dick. West Central finished their half of the inning leading 7-2. Karsen Welbig started the inning by drawing a walk and eventually scored. After a strikeout, Libis and Logan Ellingson also drew walks. JD Holm drove in a run with an RBI groundout. Jake Steineke followed with an RBI single to cut the lead to 7-5. With Steineke on second base and two outs, Geraets roped a line drive to center field that was run down and caught for the final out of the game.
Cooper Maras pitched the entire game for West Central earning the win by giving up five runs, all earned, on four hits while walking six and striking out 10. Ty Wood started the game for Dell Rapids pitching four innings giving up two earned runs on five hits while walking one and striking out two. Logan Stone pitched 2 1/3 innings of relief giving up three runs, two earned, on two hits while walking three. Steineke pitched the final 2/3 of an inning giving up two earned runs on three hits with one strikeout.
Dell Rapids also was awarded the Sportsmanship Team Award for the tournament.