The Dell Rapids Phils pulled away from Vally City in the later innings for a 12-3 home win on Thursday, June 15th.
Dell Rapids struck first with three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Dylan Kindt scored on an error, and Aiden Bochler had an RBI double and later scored on a wild pitch. Valley City cut the lead to 3-2 with two runs in the top of the second. Brayden Pankonen made the score 4-2 after stealing home in the bottom of the third. Valley City pulled within a run again, 4-3, with a run in the top of the third.
The Phils then scored the final eight runs of the game. Micah Pickard and Sutton Williams both had an RBI double, Pankonen had an RBI sacrifice fly, and Boechler had an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth to push the lead to 8-3. Drake Eastman added a sacrifice fly, and Pankonen had a two-run double in the bottom of the fifth. CJ Smith had an RBI single in the sixth.
Boechler finished with three hits, one a double, and two RBIs. Pankonen had two hits, including a double, and three RBIs. Pickard and Williams both had a double and an RBI. Smith added a single and an RBI. Kindt had one hit, and D. Eastman had an RBI. Jack Henry pitched five innings allowing three earned runs on five hits with eight strikeouts. Kindt pitched two innings allowing just one hit and one walk with three strikeouts.
