The Dell Rapids 13/14 Teener season came to an end in heart-breaking fashion on Wednesday, July 12th, in Dell Rapids. The teener team went 2-2 at the Class A Northeast Region tournament held in Dell Rapids at Rickeman Field Monday, July 10th, through Wednesday, July 12th.
Dell Rapids opened up the tournament with an 11-1 win over Sisseton on July 10th. Connor Libis went 3-3 in the game with three RBIs. Carter Nelson collected two hits and two RBIs. Coby Maeschen, Trevon Cross, and Bryce Sommerfeld all had hits as well. Austin Henry pitched four innings giving up just one run on four hits while walking three batters and striking out five. Sommerfeld pitched one inning giving up just one hit while striking out two.
The team followed that win with a 16-6 win over Flandreau also on July 10th. Charlie Holm was 2-2 with three RBIs. Landon Ruesink, Kaeden Eastman, and Nelson all had two hits in the game each. Libis had two RBIs, while Ruesink and Nelson each drove home a run. Dayton Andersen pitched three innings giving up one run on three hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Brady Larson also pitched three innings giving up five runs, four earned, on four hits with four walks and two strikeouts.
Dell Rapids then faced the Madison 14s on Tuesday, July 11th. The game was back-and-forth throughout the entire contest. The two teams were tied 5-5 heading to the bottom of the sixth inning. Dell Rapids scored two runs on back-to-back RBI singles by Eastman and Henry. But with two outs in the top of the 7th inning, Madison scored four times and then held Dell Rapids to no runs in the bottom of the 7th for the 9-7 come-from-behind win. Eastman, Henry, Maeschen, and Cross all had two hits in the game. Ruesink, Libis, and Nelson each had one hit. Henry drove home two runs, while Libis and Eastman each had an RBI. Nelson pitched four innings giving up five runs, two earned, on two hits with four walks and two strikeouts. Henry pitched the final three innings giving up four runs, all unearned, on three hits with three strikeouts.
Volga then defeated Dell Rapids on Wednesday, July 10th, 4-1 to push them into the championship game against Madison. Dell Rapids managed just one hit in the game which was a first-inning single by Eastman. Sommerfeld pitched a complete game seven innings giving up four runs on eight hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
Madison went on to win the region championship over Volga 10-4 to advance to the 13/14 Class A State VFW tournament in Milbank July 21st-23rd. The Northeast Region tournament teams were Madison 14s, Volga, Dell Rapids, Milbank, Flandreau, Sisseton, and Madison 13s.
The Dell Rapids 13/14 teener team that played in the regional tournament was a combination of two 13/14 Dell Rapids league teams. The league teams played in the I29 League. Dells-J league team was coached by Jeff Holm, Fran Ruesink, and Nate Henry. Dells-J finished with an 11-5 league record. Dells-G league team was coached by Bill Goeken, Matt Larson, and Dane Stone. Dells-G finished with a 9-6 league record. The I29 League consists of teams from Tea, Madison, Volga, Hills-Beaver Creek, Canova, Tri-Valley, West Central, Garretson, Dell Rapids, Salem-Montrose, Flandreau, Baltic, Parker/Freeman, and Sioux Falls Christian