Dell Rapids PBR took another step forward in the 2023 South Dakota State B Amateur Baseball Tournament with a 3-1 win over Dimock-Emery on Friday, August 11th.
For seven innings PBR and the Raptors were locked in a scoreless battle. Dell Rapids finally broke the tie in the top of the eighth. Conner Spindler had a one-out RBI single. After a ground out, CJ Smith smacked a triple to center field bringing home Spindler for the second run of the inning. The Raptors got one run back in the bottom of the inning.
Weston Hansen added a big insurance run in the top of the night with a two-out RBI double to center field scoring Brayden Pankonen. Dimock-Emery put together a rally in the bottom of the ninth. After the first batter was retired on a fly out, a walk and an error put two runners on with one out. A ground ball fielder’s choice to second moved both runners up a base, but with two outs. With runners on second and third, Pankonen ended the game with a strikeout to put PBR into the semifinal round.
Spindler had three hits and an RBI. Smith added two hits, one a triple, and an RBI. Pankonen had two hits. Hansen finished with a double and an RBI. Chris Burke had a double. Riley Hoffman and Riley Calhoon each had a single. Reese Arbogast pitched two innings and allowed two hits with four walks. Trey Randel got the win after pitching 5 2/3 innings allowing an earned run on two hits and two walks with five strikeouts. Pankonen pitched 1 1/3 innings and allowed a walk and recorded one strikeout.
Dell Rapids will face Canova in the semifinals on Saturday, August 12th.
