It doesn’t seem to matter what the records are when Dell Rapids PBR and Dell Rapids Mudcats face one another in post season play. That was the case again on Tuesday, July 30th when the two teams met in the semifinals of the District 4B tournament in Canova.
PBR took the lead first when Riley Calhoon scored on a wild pitch in the top of the third inning for a 1-0 advantage. The Mudcats took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth after a two-run home run from Dalton Allen. The score would remain 2-1 until the top of the eighth inning.
Connor Spindler hit a two-out RBI single for PBR to tie the game 2-2. PBR would take the lead, 3-2, in the top of the ninth after Nate McKee scored on a fielding error. The Mudcats looked to headed for a loss after the first two batters got out in the bottom of the ninth inning. But an error, single, and a hit batter for the next three hitters loaded the bases with two outs. Ty Hoglund then delivered a game-tying single to right field to make the score 3-3, sending the game to extra innings.
PBR had a chance to go ahead in the top of the 11th inning with runners on first and third with one out. Riley Hoffman broke for home on a ground ball to third base, but was thrown out at the plate to end the threat. The Mudcats put a rally together to start the bottom of the 12th. A hit batter and intentional walk to the first two batters put runners on first and second with no outs. Kole Zimmerman hit a single to left field, but Chad Hunt was thrown out at home for the first out. However, Mark Abrahamson and Zimmerman advanced to third and second respectively on the play at the plate. John Spaeth then bunted towards first base, which allowed Abrahamson to score the game-winning run.
For the Mudcats, Allen finished with two hits, one a home run, and two RBIs. Zimmerman and Josh Roeman also had two hits each. Hoglund had a single and an RBI. Carter Gullickson finished with a double. Hunt had a single, and Spaeth had an RBI. Dalton Lehnen pitched 10 innings and allowed three runs, one earned, on seven hits and two walks with 15 strikeouts. Spaeth got the win after throwing one inning and allowing a hit and walk with one strikeout.
McKee had two hits for PBR, including a double. Brayden Pankonen also had two hits. Spindler finished with a single and an RBI. Drew Sweeter, Zach Puetz, and Chris Kropuenske all had one hit each. Trey Randel threw seven innings and allowed two earned runs on five hits and five walks with seven strikeouts. Pankonen tossed four innings and allowed a run, which was unearned, on three hits and a walk with six strikeouts. Tanner Solberg pitched 1/3 of an inning and allowed an earned run on a hit and walk.
With the win the Mudcats advance to the championship game against Canova on Saturday, August 3rd. They also qualify for the state tournament no matter the outcome of the championship game. PBR will have two chances to win one game before the end of the district tournament to quality for state.
