Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media, Author at Big Sioux Media Sports Network

Dell Rapids Baseball Has Strong Season in 2021

August 16, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Photo taken and used with permission by Tammy Chamley

Baseball in Dell Rapids in the 2021 season was quite a memorable season. Five teams qualified for state tournaments. Two of those appearances resulted in state championships with two more placing.

The Dell Rapids High School Club team started the baseball season with a bang. Dell Rapids finished with a 21-6 record, winning 11 straight games, and capturing the 2021 South Dakota High School Baseball Association Class B championship held in Sioux Falls.

Four summer teams also qualified for the state tournament. The first team to do so was the Dell Rapids 14U team. The team had a 19-4 regular season, claimed the Region 2A championship, and then finished sixth at the 2021 South Dakota VFW 14U Class A State Tournament in Vermillion. The Dell Rapids 14U team finished with a 24-6 overall record.

The Dell Rapids 16U also qualified for the state tournament this summer. They finished with a 15-4 regular season this year, and then qualified as one of the top four teams from Region 2A. After dropping their first game of the 2021 South Dakota VFW 16U Class A State Tournament, they rebounded with two wins to place fifth and finish with an 18-7 overall record.

The two amateur teams, Dell Rapids PBR and the Dell Rapids Mudcats, ended the baseball season with state tournament appearances. Dell Rapids PBR had a 7-11 regular season, but put together a nice run in the the District 4B tournament. PBR played three games in districts. They won their first game, lost to the Mudcats in game two, but qualified for state with another win. Unfortunately, PBR lost their opening game of the state tournament to Lesterville.

The Dell Rapids Mudcats book-ended the summer with another championship. After putting together an impressive regular season, the Mudcats fell in the District 4B championship game to Flandreau, putting them into the 2021 South Dakota Amateur Class B state tournament as the District 4B Rep #1. The Mudcats then went on a roll at Cadwell Park in Mitchell getting wins over Lake Norden, Wynot, Larchwood, and Winner/Colome to put them into the championship game against Flandreau. This time the Mudcats got their revenge with a 16-1 win for the state title.

With five teams qualifying for state tournaments and two winning championships, there was plenty to cheer about on the baseball fields in Dell Rapids in 2021.

Lucas Kruger

August 16, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Lucas “Luke” Kruger, 42, of Freeman, passed away on Thursday, August 12, 2021 at Sanford USD Medical Center after injuries he sustained in a car accident. His funeral service will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 17, 2021 in Trinity Lutheran Church at Tea, SD. Visitation with the family present will be from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Monday, August 16, 2021 in the church. Interment will be in the Dell Rapids Cemetery. www.kahlerfh.com

Lucas “Luke” Fredrick Kruger was born on January 20, 1979 at Dell Rapids, SD, the son of Gus and Marie (Schildhauer) Kruger. He lived with his family in Trent until they moved to Dell Rapids in 1986. He attended Dell Rapids School and graduated from DRHS in 1997. He then attended SDSU for one year before graduating with an Associate Degree in HVAC from Southeast Tech. He worked for ESI, Mulder Refrigeration, Haugan Heating and Air Conditioning, G and R Controls, Climate Systems and TAB Inc. He married Kelley Knock on October 11, 2008. The couple made their home in Tea, SD. In 2010 their daughter, Chloe was born. The family moved to Freeman in 2019 where he was residing at the time of his death.

Luke was an avid outdoorsman. Fishing, hunting and camping were not only his hobbies but his passion. He loved camping with his family at Myrtles Campground. Every weekend, you could find him fishing off of Cow Patty Bay on the Missouri River. The river was his second home.

Luke is survived by his wife, Kelley of Freeman, his daughter, Chloe of Freeman; his parents, Gus and Marie Kruger of Dell Rapids; his sisters, Lisa (Mike) Westberg of Sioux Falls, Lori (Joe) Kappler of Baltic and Leslie (Dan) Hisken of Marshall, MN; his father-in-law, Arlon Knock of Tea; his brothers-in-law, Matt Knock of Tea and Tom (Kristen) Knock of Alcester and his many nieces, nephews, extended family and many friends. He will also be greatly missed by his four legged companion, Shadow.

A memorial fund will be established for Chloe’s future education.

Mudcats Win Class B Title

August 16, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Photo taken and used with permission by Kiley Stone

The Dell Rapids Mudcats claimed the 2021 South Dakota Class B Amateur Baseball state title for the first time since 2008 with a 16-1 win over Flandreau in the title game on Sunday, August 15th at Cadwell Park in Mitchell. Prior to the title game, the Mudcats had a 7-1 win over Larchwood and a 6-0 win over Winner/Colome.

The Mudcats scored first in the bottom of the first inning. Matt Burpee, pickup player from Madison, reached on an error scoring Chad Hunt. Flandreau tied the game in the top of the second on a home run by Brett Severtson, but the game then belonged to the Mudcats.

Dell Rapids had a four-run bottom of the third inning. Josh Roemen had a two-run double. Trevor Freudenthal added an RBI single, and Dalton Lehnen had an RBI double to give the Mudcats a 5-1 lead. The Mudcats delivered the big blow in the bottom of the fourth inning. Hunt scored after Mark Abrahamson reached on a catcher’s interference call. Freudenthal added an RBI single, and then Lehnen hit a grand slam home run to push the lead to 11-1.

The Mudcats continued to pour on the runs. Abrahamson had a three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning to extend the lead to 14-1. The game ended in the bottom of the sixth inning on the 15-run rule after Ty Hoglund had an RBI ground out and Hunt had an RBI single.

Lehnen finished with three hits, including a home run and double, and five RBIs. Roemen had two hits, one a double, and two RBIs. Freudenthal also had two hits and two RBIs. Hunt had two hits, including a double, and an RBI. Abrahamson had a home run and four RBIs. Hoglund had a hit and an RBI, and Dalton Allen and Grant Olson both had a hit. Kris Regas pitched all six innings allowing one earned run on six hits with eight strikeouts.

Lehnen and Regas were named Co-MVPs of the tournament.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Flandreau	0	1	0	0	0	0	X	X	X	1	6	5
Dell Rapids Mudcats	1	0	4	6	3	2	X	X	X	16	13	0

Mudcats Move to Quarterfinals of State Tournament

August 11, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Photo taken and used with permission by Kiley Stone

The Dell Rapids Mudcats took another step closer to a state title with a 13-5 second round win over Wynot at the 2021 South Dakota Class B Amateur Baseball Tournament in Mitchell on Tuesday, August 10th.

Wynot jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but Mark Abrahamson sparked the Mudcat offense with a three-run home run in the bottom of the inning to cut the lead to 4-3. Abrahamson struck again in the bottom of the fourth inning with a solo home run to tie the game 4-4. The Mudcats rallied from there scoring nine more times while holding Wynot to just one more run for the win to advance to the quarterfinals.

Abrahamson finished with three hits and five RBIs in the game. Grant Olson also had three hits along with an RBI. Nate Henry, Matt Burpee (pickup player from Madison), and Josh Roemen all had two hits and an RBI each. Dalton Allen had a hit and two RBIs. Ty Hoglund had a hit and an RBI. Chad Hunt and Trevor Freudenthal both had a hit. The Mudcats had a total of 16 hits in the game.

Dalton Lehnen pitched eight innings allowing five runs, three earned, on eight hits with two walks and 11 strikeouts. John Spaeth pitched an inning of scoreless relief striking out two batters.

The Mudcats will play Larchwood in the quarterfinals on Friday, August 13th at 5:30 p.m. in Mitchell.

Julia Blue

August 9, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Julia (Geraets) Blue, 59, of Sioux Falls, passed away on Sunday, August 1, 2021 at the Dougherty Hospice House. Her Memorial Mass will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, August 27, 2021 in St. Mary Catholic Church, Dell Rapids. Visitation will be one hour prior to the start of the service. Inurnment will be in the St. Mary Cemetery. www.kahlerfh.com

Julia Grace Geraets was born on March 25, 1962 in Dell Rapids, SD, the daughter of Clarence and Helen (Bohnenkamp) Geraets. She grew up on the family farm west of Dell Rapids and attended school at St. Mary. She graduated from St. Mary High School in 1980. After high school Julia worked various jobs. She married Richard Blue Sr. in 1994. The couple made their home in Vermillion where they owned and operated Little Italy’s Pizzeria. After the restaurant, the couple moved to Sioux Falls where Julia remained until the time of her death.

She enjoyed her family, flowers and tending to her garden. Julia was a loving daughter, wife, mother, sister but her largest passion was her grandchildren. She was always very supportive of the community of Vermillion and was known for her generosity and big heart.

Julia is preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, John, Joe and Jay and her brothers-in-law, Darrell Ordal, Roger Mines and Greg Spangler.

She is survived by her husband, Richard “Rick” Blue Sr. of Sioux Falls; her step-children, Rick Jr (Brenda) Blue of Freeman, Robyn (Doug) Cummings of MN, Christina (Dave) Gillies of Yankton, Michael (Brooke) Blue of Sioux Falls and Casey (April) Blue of Vermillion; her 21 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren; her siblings, Jerome (LaVonne) Geraets of Dell Rapids, Jean Mines of AZ, Judy (Shawn) Parcell of NE, Janet Ordal of Carson City, NV, Jennifer (Don) Huwe of Dell Rapids, Joyce (Chuck) Selland of Chamberlain, Jeff (Tammy) Geraets of Brandon, Joan Spangler of AZ, June (Randy) Huewe of IA and Jackie (Jeff) Rauh of Carson, City, NV; her sisters-in-law, Yvette Geraets of Sioux Falls, Julie (Steve) Stofferahn of Dell Rapids, Anita Buckmaster of Sioux Falls and Marvalee (Don) Ulrich of Iroquois; and her many nieces nephews and many friends.

Dell Rapids 16U Captures Fifth Place at State Tournament

August 8, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The Dell Rapids 16U baseball team rebounded from a heart-breaking opening round loss to finish fifth at the 2021 South Dakota VFW Class A State Tournament held Friday, August 6th through Sunday, August 8th in Madison.

Dell Rapids opened the tournament on Friday against Dakota Valley, the eventual state champions, losing in a heart-breaker 4-3. Will Jaton put Dell Rapids on the board first with a two-run single in the top of the first inning. Dakota Valley scored one in the bottom of the inning, giving Dell Rapids a 2-1 lead after one complete inning. CJ Smith had an RBI single in the top of the sixth inning to push the lead to 3-1. Dakota Valley answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the sixth, and Dell Rapids led 3-2 heading into the final inning. Dell Rapids was held scoreless in their half of the seventh. But with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Dakota Valley got the tying run on a passed ball, and the winning run scoring on a single.

Jaton had a single and two RBIs in the game. Smith had a single and an RBI. Aiden Boechler had a double. Brayden Pankonen and Dylan Mathis each had a single. Pankonen pitched six innings allowing two runs, one earned, on six hits with one walk and five strikeouts. Joe Rechtenbaugh pitched 2/3 of an inning allowing two runs, one earned, on two hits with a walk.

Dell Rapids held off a late rally by Madison White to win their second game of the tournament, 8-7, on Saturday. Dell Rapids scored first again in the top of the first inning when Boechler scored on an error. Madison tied the game in the bottom of the first. Madison would take a short-lived lead with a run in the bottom of the second inning. Dell Rapids scored three times in the top of the third inning. Mathis, Smith, and Sutton Williams all had RBI singles to give Dell Rapids a 4-2 lead. They would score three more times in the top of the fourth inning. Jaton had a two-run single followed by an RBI ground out by Mathis to push the lead to 7-2. Madison would get two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to cut the lead to 7-4. Dell Rapids got a big insurance run in the top of the seventh. Rechtenbaugh had an RBI ground out to put Dell Rapids ahead 8-4. That RBI proved to be the difference as Madison scored three times and had the bases loaded before the final out was recorded.

Brayden Fersdahl and Boechler each had two hits. Jaton and Mathis both had a single and two RBIs. Smith, Williams, and Rechtenbaugh all had one hit and one RBI in the game. Jaton pitched 6 2/3 innings allowing seven runs, six earned, on 11 hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Smith got the final out on a strikeout, but also allowed three walks.

In the consolation championship game on Sunday, Dell Rapids rallied with three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, and then got one run in the bottom of the eighth to get a walk-off 7-6 win over Volga to take fifth place in the tournament. Volga put the pressure on Dell Rapids right away with a five-run top of the first inning. Dell Rapids got three runs back in the bottom of the third inning. John Mortrude scored on a wild pitch, Evan Nelson scored on a passed ball, and Boechler had an RBI single. The score remained 5-3 until the seventh inning. Volga added a run in the top of the inning to make it a 6-3 ballgame. Dell Rapids then put together a rally in the bottom of the seventh. The first three batters reached, and then Mortrude reached on an error scoring Smith. Ethan Kringen had the game-tying, two-run single to tie the game at 6-6 and force extra innings.

Volga nearly took the lead in the top of the eighth inning. After two one-out walks, a single to center field nearly drove home a run, but Micah Pickard hit the cutoff man Jaton, who relayed the ball home to Williams to get a runner out a home for the second out. The next batter lined out to Fersdahl in left to end the inning for Volga. With momentum on their side, Mathis laced a one-out triple to center field. Smith followed with a ground ball to shortstop that scored Mathis from third as the winning run in the game.

Kringen had a hit and two RBIs. Smith and Boechler each had a single and an RBI. Mathis finished with a triple. Fersdahl, Williams, and Rechtenbaugh each had a single as well. Mortrude finished with an RBI. Rechtenbaugh pitched 4 1/3 innings allowing five runs, all unearned, on four hits with five walks and two strikeouts. Smith pitched 3 2/3 innings giving up an earned run on three hits with three walks.

West Central 16U Finishes 3rd at State A Tournament

August 8, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The West Central 16U baseball team came home with a third place finish at the 2021 South Dakota VFW 16U Class A State Tournament held in Madison Friday, August 6th through Sunday, August 8th.

West Central opened the tournament on Friday with a big 15-3 win in six innings over Madison White. West Central had a seven-run second inning and five-run sixth inning as their two big innings in the game. They pounded 14 hits led by Dalton Mulder with four hits, two doubles, and four RBIs. Dylan Sherard also had four hits and an RBI. Camden McDonald, Justin Zirpel, and Dyaln Stromer all had a hit and two RBIs in the game. Brayden Odegaard had a double and an RBI. Derrick Renken had a double, and Cade Vander Woude had a hit. Owen Heath pitched all six innings allowing three runs, two earned, on five hits with four walks and four strikeouts.

In the semifinal round on Saturday, West Central tried to put together a late rally against Dakota Valley, but Dakota Valley held on for a 6-4 victory. Dakota Valley scored a single run in the first, second, and third innings for a 3-0 lead. West Central got a run back in the bottom of the third, but Dakota Valley scored three more times in the top of the fifth to push the lead to 6-1. West Central had a three-run bottom of the sixth, but couldn’t quite complete the come back.

Mulder had two hits, including a double, and an RBI. Renken had a double and an RBI. Odegaard finished with a single and an RBI, and Sherard also had a single in the game. Andrew Zimmer pitched 4 2/3 innings allowing six runs, five earned, on 12 hits with two walks and a strikeout. Renken pitched 2 1/3 innings allowing just one hit along with two strikeouts.

West Central survived a late push by Wagner in the 3rd/4th place game on Sunday winning 9-7 to take home third place. West Central scored first in the bottom of the first inning to lead 1-0. After a Wagner run in the top of the second tied the game, West Central pushed across three runs in the bottom of the second inning. They would add three more in the bottom of the fifth for a 7-1 lead. Wagner rallied for four runs in the top of the sixth to cut the lead to 7-5, but West Central got two big insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Those two runs were just enough for the win as Wagner scored two times in the top of the seventh.

Stromer had three hits and three RBIs to lead West Central. Sherard and Renken both had a single and an RBI. McDonald, Zirpel, and Landon Holewa each had one hit. Vander Woude had an RBI. Mulder pitched five innings allowing two runs, neither of them earned, on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts. Renken pitched 2/3 of an inning allowing three runs, all unearned, on a hit with three walks and a strikeout. Holewa pitched 1 1/3 innings allowing two earned runs on a hit with five walks and two strikeouts.

Mudcats Win Big in First Round State Tourney Game

August 8, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Photo taken and used with permission by Kiley Stone

The Dell Rapids Mudcats had no trouble in the opening round of the 2021 South Dakota State B Amateur Baseball Tournament in Mitchell on Friday, August 6th. The Mudcats scored in every inning but one in a 15-0 victory over the Lake Norden Lakers.

Dell Rapids had a total of 17 hits in the game while Kris Regas held Lake Norden to just two hits with 13 strikeouts while pitching all six innings of the game.

Chad Hunt had four hits and an RBI. Trevor Freudenthal had three hits while driving home six runs. Mark Abrahamson had two hits, one a double, and two RBIs. Josh Roemen had two hits and two RBIs. Nate Henry and Ty Hoglund both had two hits in the game. Matt Burpee (Madison pick-up player) and Grant Olson each collected a hit.

The Mudcats will play Wynot in the second round on Tuesday, August 10th at 5:30 p.m. in Mitchell.

Third Annual “Wine and Wander” Held

August 8, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

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The third annual “Wine and Wander” event hosted by the Dell Rapids Chamber of Commerce was held on Saturday, July 31st in downtown Dell Rapids. Patrons of the event were able to walk the sidewalks of downtown and sample the different wines and beers for $10.

Over 175 people attended the event, including folks from Georgia, Minnesota, Iowa, and the surrounding area.

Six wineries were on hand with samples. The wineries were With the Wind Vineyard & Winery, Schade, Strawbale, Humble Hill, Wild Prairie, and Tucker’s Walk. Two breweries were also part of the event. They were Ben’s Brewing and Fernson Brewing.

Dell Rapids School Shares Draft of Return to Safe Learning Plan

August 3, 2021 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The Dell Rapids School Board will hold a discussion on the “Return to Safe Learning” Plan during their next regular meeting on Monday, August 9th. In the meantime, the draft version of the plan has been released to parents and the public prior to the meeting in hopes of clarifying any questions.

The plan for the 2021-2022 school year is much different than the plan from last school year. One of the big differences is face masks will be recommended, but not required. Dell Rapids Superintendent Dr. Summer Schultz sat down with Big Sioux Media and discussed some of the changes to this year’s plan.

“We learned that the masks when worn properly, and specific masks, are very effective in mitigating the spread of Covid-19. That coupled with the availability of a vaccine right now, we really feel that we can put the decision for both of those things into the parent’s hands and into our staff member’s hands,” she said. “We didn’t have the luxury of knowing those things last year and there was no availability of a vaccine should someone want it. We just really think those social and emotional needs of kids wearing that mask all day is tough.” She also said, “I think we’re in a different landscape right now in our community and our state, so we’re going to allow parents to decide the best course of action for their kids going into this school year.”

Another change with this year’s plan is that extracurricular activities will continue with safeguards in place, but activity attendance will be at full capacity instead to start the school year instead of limited attendance. However, Dr. Schultz said that the school does follow state guidelines by the South Dakota High School Activities Association, which means attendance changes could happen if directed by state guidelines.

School lunches and breakfasts will be free to all students for the school year once again. A change to the lunches for this year will be bringing back more options to the the lunchroom like the salad bar.

The full interview with Dr. Schultz can be found in the embedded video.

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