The Dell Rapids 16U team kept their state tournament hopes alive with a 7-1 win over Milbank in the semifinals of the “Last Chance” tournament on Thursday, August 1st.
After a scoreless first inning, Dell Rapids scored two runs in the bottom of the first, which is all they needed on the night. Milbank got one run in the top of the third to make the score 2-1. Dell Rapids put some space between them and Milbank with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. They scored two more times in the sixth for the 7-1 score.
Connor Hanson had three hits, including a triple, and two RBIs. Jackson Peppel and Jace Brende each had a single and an RBI each. Ryan Stubbe, Carson Maeschen, and Jake Heinitz all had one hit each. Gauge Bunkers pitched 5 2/3 innings and allowed an earned run on seven hits and three walks with four strikeouts. Eli Gullickson pitched 1 1/3 innings and allowed two hits with two strikeouts.
Dell Rapids will play Chamberlain/Lyman at Drake Field in Mitchell at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, August 2nd. The winner will advance to the 2024 South Dakota 16U VFW State A Tournament as the #7 seed.
