The Dell Rapids Phils will be headed to the region championship after a 4-1 win over Volga on Tuesday, July 18th. The championship game will be played in Volga on Thursday, July 20th.
The Phils built a 3-0 lead through four innings of play. Sutton Williams was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom of the second inning. Mason Stubbe walked with the bases loaded in the bottom of the third. Brayden Pankonen added an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth for the 3-0 lead.
Volga got on run in the top of the fifth to cut the lead to 3-1. Pankonen added an RBI sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth for an insurance run, making the score 4-1. After a one-out double and single, Pankonen picked the runner off of third base and then picked off a runner on first base to end the game.
Pankonen had a hit and two RBIs. Aiden Boechler finished with two hits, one a double. CJ Smith and Will Jaton both had a single. Williams and Stubbe each had an RBI. Drake Eastman pitched four innings and allowed three hits and four walks with six strikeouts. Pankonen pitched three innings and allowed an earned run on four hits and two walks with three strikeouts.
