Dell Rapids PBR won their first state baseball title since 2007 with a 3-1 win over Platte on Sunday, August 18th.
Neither team got much going offensively for the first six innings. Platte had one big threat by loading the bases with two outs in the top of the third, but they were unable to score. The Killer Tomatoes were able to get a run in the top of the seventh. A one-out triple followed by a single two batters later gave Platte a 1-0 lead.
PBR would respond well in the bottom of the seventh. They were able to load the bases with one out. Matt Gillogly delivered a game-tying RBI single. With two outs and the bases still loaded, Riley Calhoon hit a two-run single to center giving PBR a 3-1 lead. Platte would get two runners on base with two outs in the top of the ninth, but Brayden Pankonen was able to induce a pop-out to second base to end the game and give PBR the championship.
Calhoon finished with two hits and two RBIs in the game. Zach Puetz also had two hits. Gillogly added a single and an RBI. Connor Spindler and Riley Hoffman both had one hit each. Hoffman pitched 4 1/3 innings and allowed three hits and a walk with three strikeouts. Drew Sweeter pitched 2 2/3 innings allowing an earned run on four hits with three strikeouts. Pankonen pitched the final two innings allowing just one hit.
