The Dell Rapids Quarriers and Elk Point-Jefferson Huskies got locked into an offensive battle in the SoDak 16 in Elk Point on Tuesday, May 26th. The Husikes rallied late for a 20-15 win to advance to the state tournament. The season for Dell Rapids ends with an overall record of 6-10.
Aisley Grib put Dell Rapids on the board in the top of the first with a solo home run to center field. The Huskies got three runs on a home run of their own in the bottom of the first for a 3-1 lead. Chloe Carver would drive home a run with a single in the top of the second. Elk Point-Jefferson was held scoreless in their half of the inning, and the Huskies led 3-2 after two innings. That’s when the offenses really got going for both teams.
Emma Lanpher and Josie Becker had RBI singles, and Sylea Sykes added a home run in a five-run top of the third for Dell Rapids to take a 7-3 lead. Elk Point-Jefferson responded with a five-run third of their own to regain the lead 8-7. Gabriella Carstensen, Lanpher, Sykes, Carver, and Lexi Scherff all drove home runs in the top of the fourth to give Dell Rapids a 13-8 lead. The Huskies were able to get three more runs in the bottom of the fourth to cut the Quarrier lead to 13-11.
After holding Dell Rapids scoreless in the top of the fifth, Elk Point-Jefferson rallied for five more runs in the bottom of the fifth to go back in front by a score of 16-13. Sykes delivered an RBI double, and Scherff had a single that brought home a run in the top of the sixth to pull within a run, 16-15. The Huskies, however, added four insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth to extend the lead to 20-15. Dell Rapids got two runners on base in the top of the seventh but was unable to score.
Lanpher had three hits, one a double, and two RBIs. Grib added three hits, including a home run, and an RBI. Sykes finished with a double and home run with four RBIs. Scherff and Carver both had two hits with two RBIs. Ella Johnson and Parker Matzke each had two singles. Becker had a hit and two RBIs. Carstensen finished with a single and an RBI.
Scherff pitched 4 2/3 innings and allowed 16 runs, 11 earned, on 13 hits and three walks with three strikeouts. Emily Baker pitched 1 1/3 innings and allowed four runs, three earned, on a hit and two walks.
