The South Dakota State Youth Fastpitch tournament was held in Sioux Falls Friday, August 7^th through Sunday August 9^th.   It was a great weekend for the Dell Rapids 14U team.

In the first round, Dell Rapids defeated the Blue Devils from Watertown by a score of 12-0. Maya Lee had three RBI’s with two hits. Her first hit was with bases loaded bringing in three runs. Makayla O’Meara also had a great bat with a hit for two RBI’s and one triple. The Dells girls scored seven runs in the 2^nd inning to make it 12-0. Dell Rapids had six hits during the 3-inning game. Mya Heinitz, Elly Olson, Kya Alderson and O’Meara all had one hit each. Alderson was on the mound. She went three innings with five strikeouts, no walks and no hits.

In the second round of the tournament, Dell Rapids defeated the Luverne Blaze 12-6.  O’Meara would not be denied at the plate when runners were on base, driving in four on three hits to lead Dell Rapids. O’Meara drove in runs on a single in the first, a single in the second, and a double in the third.

Dell Rapids got things started in the first inning when Liz Price scored one run by hitting a triple. Dell Rapids scored six runs in the second inning. Their big bats were led by Price, Alderson, O’Meara, Elly Olson, and Haley Rydell, all driving in runs in the frame.

Dell Rapids saw the ball well racking up 15 hits in the game. Heinitz, O’Meara, Price, Alderson, and Olson each collected multiple hits for the team. O’Meara and Heinitz each collected three hits to lead Dell Rapids.  Price was in the pitcher’s circle. She went four innings, allowing six runs on ten hits and striking out one.

The semifinal game took place right after the Luverne Blaze game Saturday night at 9:30 pm. The Dells girls defeated the Yankton Fury 20–0 to get into the championship game. This was a second match up with Yankton that same week. Dells traveled to Yankton on August 4^th for a double header. On Tuesday night when the first game ending in a tie at 4-4 and winning the second game by two runs, the Dells players came out swinging for the rematch.

Lee led Dell Rapids to victory by driving in six runs. She went 3-for-4 at the plate. Lee drove in runs on a double in the first, a single in the first, and a groundout in the second.  Alderson was on the rubber. She surrendered zero runs on one hit over three innings, striking out five and walking zero.

Dell Rapids racked up 17 hits in the game. Lee, Heinitz, O’Meara, Josie Baumberger, Alderson, and Olson each collected multiple hits.  O’Meara, Heinitz, and Lee all had three hits to lead the team.  Heinitz led Dell Rapids with two stolen bases. Dell Rapids had eight stolen bases in total.

In the championship game, the Dells bats were on fire again with a 19–1 win over Sparks06.  Price had three RBI’s with two hits.  O’Meara also had a great bat with two hits and two RBI’s with one triple.  Olson and Alderson had two hits and two RBI’s. Newcomer Abby Timm had a nice bunt that drove in two RBI’s to help with the score in the 2^nd inning.

With the big bats, the Dells girls scored 11 runs in the 2nd inning to make it 19-1. Dell Rapids had 15 hits during the 3-inning game. Heinitz, Olson, Alderson, O’Meara, Price, and Timm all had two hits each. Josie Baumberger, Lee, and Rydell each had one hit each.  Alderson was on the mound.  She went three innings with three strikeouts, one walk while allowing two hits and one run.