The defending State B Champions, Dell Rapids PBR, punched their ticket for the state tournament with an 8-1 win over the Flandreau Blue Teal on Friday, August 1st by a score of 8-1.
Chris Kropuenske drew a two-out, bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the first to give PBR a 1-0 lead. Zach Puetz had an RBI single in the bottom of the third to extend the lead to 2-0. The Blue Teal were able to get the first three batters on base in the top of the fifth by a single and two hit batters. They scored a run on a ground ball to make the score 2-1, but PBR turned a double play to minimize the damage to just one run.
Conner Spindler was able to score on a throwing error in the bottom of the seventh to put PBR back in front by two runs, 3-1. Dell Rapids then delivered the big blow in the bottom of the eighth. Drew Sweeter had an RBI sacrifice fly, Puetz added another RBI single and then scored on a wild pitch later in the inning, Spindler scored on a wild pitch, and Riley Hoffman drew a bases-loaded walk to extend the lead to 8-1.
Puetz had two hits and two RBIs in the game. Hoffman had a single and an RBI. Brayden Pankonen, Spindler, and Weston Hansen each had a hit. Sweeter and Kropuenske both finished with an RBI. Sweeter pitched all nine innings and allowed an earned run on seven hits and a walk with seven strikeouts.
