Rickeman Field was the location for game three of the Region 1A best-of-three series on Monday, July 29th. Tri-Valley took the lead in the first inning and held for a 14-8 victory.
Tri-Valley got two runs in the bottom of the first inning. They added four more in the third for a 6-0 lead. After Dell Rapids got a run in the top of the fourth inning, Tri-Valley scored three more times in the bottom of the fourth for a 9-1 lead. That set up a wild fifth inning.
Dell Rapids scored six times in the top of the fifth inning to cut the lead to 9-7. Tri-Valley rallied to score five runs in the bottom of the fifth to get the momentum back and extend the lead to 14-7. Dell Rapids got a run in the top of the seventh.
Ryan Stubbe had three hits, one a double, and an RBI. Tommy Lavoy finished with two singles. Carson Maeschen had a double, and Jace Brende had a single. Jackson Peppel and Gauge Bunkers each had an RBI. Stubbe pitched 3 2/3 innings and allowed nine earned runs on six hits and five walks with two strikeouts. Luke Symens pitched 1/3 of an inning and allowed an earned run on a hit. Bunkers threw two innings and allowed four earned runs on three hits and two walks with one strikeout.
Dell Rapids will have another chance to quality for state in a “last chance” bracket. They will host the winner of Wagner and Milbank on Wednesday, July 31st.
