Photo taken and used with permission by Jodie Jaton
The winning streak continued for Dell Rapids baseball on Monday, April 25th, although they had to come-from-behind to win. Brandon Valley scored seven runs in the bottom of the first inning, but was held to just one run the rest of the game as Dell Rapids took the win 12-8.
Dell Rapids took advantage of two Brandon Valley errors in the top of the first inning. Treyse Eastman and Dylan Mathis both scored on errors to give Dell Rapids a 2-0 lead. Brandon Valley regrouped offensively and scored seven times in the bottom of the inning for a 7-2 lead.
Dell Rapids, however, chipped away at the lead throughout the game. Jack Henry had a two-run single scoring Eastman and Braden Fersdahl in the top of the second. Aiden Boechler added an RBI single in the top of the fourth to cut the lead to 7-5.
The big inning came in the top of the fifth inning. Josh Deknikker started the inning with a double. Sutton Williams drove him home with a triple. Landon Ruesink followed with an RBI double to tie the game 7-7. Mathis had the biggest blow in the inning, a three-run home run to put Dell Rapids ahead 10-7.
Henry added an inside-the-park home run scoring Ruesink in the top of the seventh to give Dell Rapids a five-run lead, 12-7. Brandon Valley tried to make some noise in the bottom of the seventh, but they were only able to score one run before Dell Rapids shut down the rally.
Mathis had three hits, one a home run, and three RBIs. Ruesink had four hits, two of them doubles, and an RBI. Henry had two hits, one a home run, and four RBIs. Boechler had two hits and an RBI. Williams finished with a triple and an RBI. Deknikker had a double. Eastman, CJ Smith, and Fersdahl all had a single.
Eastman started the game on the mound lasting 1/3 of an inning giving up seven runs, five earned, on three hits and four walks with one strikeout. Brayden Pankonen pitched 2 2/3 innings giving up no runs on four hits with two strikeouts. Tad Tjaden got the win pitching four innings allowing an unearned run on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts.