
Photo taken and used with permission by Tammy Chamley
Dell Rapids punched their ticket to the Region 2B Championship with a 19-10 win over Madison on Wednesday, July 20th at Rickeman Field. Dell Rapids scored in every inning but one as the two teams combined for 24 hits and 11 errors in a slugfest.
Madison struck first with two runs in the bottom of the first. Dell Rapids tied the game in the top of the second, and after the second inning, the score was 2-2. Dell Rapids slowly started to pull away in the middle innings. They scored three times in the third. Madison countered with two in the bottom of the inning.
The fourth and fifth innings is when Dell Rapids put the pressure on Madison. Dell Rapids scored four times in the top of the fourth inning and five more in the fifth inning. Madison was only able to get one run in the bottom of the fourth. After five innings of play, Dell Rapids led 14-5. Both teams scored two runs in the sixth inning and three runs in the seventh inning.
Every starter had at least one hit and one RBI in the game for Dell Rapids. CJ Smith had two hits and three RBIs. Landon Ruesink had two hits, one a double, and two RBIs. Brayden Pankonen finished with two hits and two RBIs. Dylan Mathis had two hits, one a double, and an RBI. Treyse Eastman also had two hits and an RBI. Jack Henry had a home run and three RBIs. Aiden Boechler, Will Jaton, and Mason Stubbe all finished with a single and an RBI.
Joe Rechtenbaugh pitched 4 2/3 innings and allowed five runs, two earned, on four hits and six walks with seven strikeouts. Mathis pitched 1 1/3 innings and allowed four runs, three earned, on five hits. Braden Fersdahl pitched one inning and allowed an earned run on a hit and a walk.
Dell Rapids will get a rematch with Volga in the Region 2B championship game on Thursday, July 21st at 5:30 p.m. Dell Rapids will need to win two games against Volga to advance to the state tournament.