South Dakota VFW Class A 16U region play looks a little different this year. With only 15 teams registered this year, region play is a best two-out-of-three series. Fourteen teams were randomly paired into seven series, with the winner of each series qualifying for state. The state tournament host team, Beresford/Alcester-Hudson, is automatically in state and is not playing in regions.
Dell Rapids 16U was paired against Flandreau. Their first game was played on Monday, July 24th. Dell Rapids won the first game 11-1. The second game of the series will be played on Wednesday, July 26th. If Dell Rapids wins, they will advance to state. If Flandreau wins, a third game will be played, and the winner of the third game will qualify for state.
Dell Rapids scored in every inning of the game taking advantage of six walks, two hit batters, and four Flandreau errors. Dell Rapids scored two runs in the first, one run in the second and third innings, three in the fourth, three in the fifth, and one final run in the sixth.
Logan Donovan had two hits. Tad Tjaden had a single and two RBIs. Lincoln Fersdahl and Drake Eastman both had a double and an RBI. Cole Ruesink also had a double. Brandon Schmidt and Quinn Carr both added an RBI. Tjaden pitched six innings and allowed one run, which was unearned, on one hit and one walk with 11 strikeouts.
