The Dell Rapids 16U baseball team qualified for the 2024 South Dakota VFW 16U State A Tournament after a 7-3 win over Chamberlain/Lyman in the championship game of the “Last Chance” bracket in Mitchell on Friday, August 2nd.
Chamberlain/Lyman grabbed the lead, 2-0, right away in the top of the first inning. Dell Rapids tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the second inning. The offense continued to score in every inning from that point forward. They scored a single run in the third and fourth innings for a 4-2 lead. They got two runs in the bottom of the fifth and one more in the sixth for a 7-2 score. Chamberlain/Lyman scored one more run in the top of the seventh.
Gauge Bunkers had two hits and an RBI. Jake Heinitz and Tommy Lavoy both had two singles each. Ryan Stubbe added a single and an RBI. Kenny Swanson had a double. Carson Maeschen had a single, and Jace Brende finished with an RBI. Connor Hanson pitched six innings and allowed two earned runs on five hits and four walks with four strikeouts. Eli Gullickson pitched the final inning and allowed an earned run on two hits.
Dell Rapids will play Dakota Valley in the opening round of the state tournament at 1:30 on Friday, August 9th. The tournament will be held in Vermilion.
