The Dell Rapids 14U team finished third at the I-29 League Tournament in Flandreau held Friday, June 4th through Sunday, June 6th. Dell Rapids played a total of four games in Flandreau over the three days, finishing 3-1 for the third place finish.
The first game was against Garretson on Friday afternoon. Dell Rapids had no trouble in the game. They scored 11 times in just the first inning and ended the game in three innings by a score of 20-2.
Dell Rapids’ second game was Saturday morning. Dell Rapids used two eight-run innings to defeat Tea Navy 14U 18-6. Dell Rapids scored two runs in the top of the first inning, but Tea rallied to take a lead by the bottom of the second. Tea led 3-2 heading into the third inning, but Dell Rapids scored eight times in the third and eight times in the fourth for their second win in the tournament.
Tri-Valley Maroon kept the Dell Rapids offense off-balance Saturday afternoon. Tri-Valley led 2-0 after the top of the first inning, but Dell Rapids did score three times in the bottom of the first to take a 3-2 lead. Tri-Valley regained the lead in the top of the third at 5-3, and then added another run in the top of the fourth for a 6-3 advantage. Dell Rapids was only able to scratch across one run in the bottom of the fifth in the loss.
Despite the loss to Tri-Valley, Dell Rapids qualified for the 3rd/4th place game against West Central Royal. The two teams combined for 25 runs, and it was Dell Rapids that took the win 14-11.
Dell Rapids scored four times in the top of the first inning and then two more in the top of the second for an early 6-0 lead. West Central came back with four in the bottom of the second to cut the lead to 6-4. After a single run by Dell Rapids in the top of the third, West Central scored three more times in the bottom of the inning to tie the game 7-7. Dell Rapids got one more run in the top of the fourth inning for an 8-7 lead, but West Central again scored three times in their half of the inning for a 10-8 lead. Dell Rapids took the lead for good in the top of the fifth inning. They added three runs to pull ahead 11-10. They scored three more times in the top of the seventh for a 14-10 lead before West Central scored just one run in the bottom of the inning.
Twelve players collected at least one hit over the four games. Brandon Schmidt had six hits, one double, with eight RBIs. Cooper Frost had five hits, one a double, and six RBIs. Cole Ruesink had four hits, one a double, and an RBI. Talan Millage also had four hits, with one double, and three RBIs. Kenny Swanson had three hits. Tad Tjaden finished with three hits, two of them doubles. Carson Crosby and Ethan Vanderwerf both had two hits and an RBI. Grady Lamer had two hits and two RBIs. Lincoln Fersdahl finished with two hits and four RBIs. Matthew Nelson had a hit and two RBIs. Quinn Carr also had a hit and an RBI. Nick Snyder had two RBIs. Atticus Miles, Carson Maeschen, and Jack Patereson all had an RBI as well.
Ruesink pitched five innings over the games allowing six runs, four earned, on nine hits with six strikeouts and two walks. Schmidt pitched four innings giving up 10 runs, but only two earned, on three hits with six walks and six strikeouts. Fersdahl had three innings pitched allowing two runs, neither earned, on one hit with two walks and four strikeouts. Millage pitched 2 1/3 innings allowing three runs, none earned, on one hit with three walks and two strikeouts. Crosby finished with two innings pitched allowing one earned run on one hit with five walks and a strikeout. Frost had 1 2/3 innings pitched with three earned runs on two hits, two walks, and three strikeouts. Lamer pitched one inning giving up just one walk.