Photo taken and used with permission by Tammy Chamley
Dell Rapids took advantage of three errors by Volga in the sixth inning to tie the game, but Volga rallied in extra innings for a 5-2 win on Tuesday, July 19th. Volga advances to the championship game of the Region 2B tournament on Thursday. Dell Rapids faces elimination on Wednesday.
Parker Puetz got things going right away for Volga with a lead-off solo home run in the top of t he first inning. Volga added another run in the top of the third on a dropped third strike passed ball. The score remained 2-0 in favor of Volga until the bottom of the sixth.
Mason Stubbe reached on an error to start the inning for Dell Rapids, the first error committed by Volga in the inning. After Stubbe stole second, Brayden Pankonen had an infield single to short stop. The throw over to first, while late, kicked away from the first baseman allowing Stubbe to score. That was the second error of the inning. As Volga attempted to make a play at the plate on Stubbe, Pankonen advanced towards second. The throw by the catcher to second kicked into center field, the third error, and allowed Pankonen to move to third. Landon Ruesink followed with an RBI sacrifice fly to center to tie the game.
Dell Rapids put together a small rally in the bottom of the seventh. Aiden Boechler had a one-out single and then stole second. Will Jaton lined a ball to right field in which Conner Gross made a diving catch to keep the game tied. That play seemed to shift momentum to Volga. Boden Schiller hit a two-run double, and Gross had an RBI sacrifice fly to give Volga a 5-2 lead in the top of the eighth.
Dell Rapids was held to just two hits. Pankonen and Boechler each had a single. Ruesink finished with an RBI. Jaton pitched seven innings and allowed five runs, four earned, on seven hits and four walks with three strikeouts. Ruesink pitched one inning and allowed one hit and two walks.