Dell Rapids perfectly executed a squeeze bunt play in the bottom of the eighth inning with the bases loaded to get a 5-4 win over Dakota Valley to claim another state title on Tuesday, May 27th. Prior to the exciting extra-inning win in the championship game, Dell Rapids defeated Elk Point-Jefferson in the semifinals.
Dell Rapids 10, Elk Point-Jefferson 0
After a scoreless first inning, Dell Rapids put pressure on Elk Point-Jefferson with four runs in the bottom of the second. The score remained 4-0 through three innings. Dell Rapids then added four more in the bottom of the fourth to extend the lead to 8-0. The game ended on the 10-run rule after Dell Rapids added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Tad Tjaden pitched a gem on the mound. He threw five innings allowing just two hits with no walks and had eight strikeouts. Carson Maeschen had two hits and two RBIs. Tjaden added a triple with two RBIs. Cole Ruesink had a single with two RBIs. Jackson Peppel ended with a hit and an RBI. Talan Millage and Ryan Brandenburg both had one hit each.
Dell Rapids 5, Dakota Valley 4 – 8 innings
The championship game featured all the excitement one would hope for in a title game. Neither team was able to score in the first two innings. Brandenburg broke the 0-0 tie with an RBI single in the bottom of the third and then later scored on an error for a 2-0 lead. Dakota Valley answered right back with two runs in the top of the fourth. Connor Hanson had an RBI fielder’s choice in the bottom of the fourth to put Dell Rapids back in front 3-2.
Peppel added to the lead in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI double to make the score 4-2. Dakota Valley rallied and scored two times in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game again 4-4. They would threaten to take the lead in the top of the seventh. Dakota Valley had the bases loaded with two outs, but Lincoln Fersdahl got a called strike three to end the inning. Cole Ruesink had a two-out double in the bottom of the seventh but was unable to score sending the game into extra innings.
Dakota Valley got a one-out single in the top of the eighth inning, but they would not advance a runner further than first base. After a strikeout to start the bottom of the eighth, Tjaden hit a one-out single. Hanson drew a walk to put runners on first and second. On the first pitch to Millage, both runners stole a base to move to third and second. Millage then received an intentional walk to load the bases with one out. Cooper Front bunted the very first pitch he saw as Tjaden broke for home. Tjaden slide across home plate before the throw to the catcher to give Dell Rapids the title.
Ruesink had two hits, including a double. Peppel had a double and an RBI. Brandenburg finished with a single and an RBI. Tjaden also had a sinigle. Hanson and Frost both had one RB each. Drake Eastman pitched five innings and allowed four earned runs on three hits and four walks with five strikeouts. Fersdahl pitched three innings and allowed two hits and four walks with one strikeout.
