The Dell Rapids Mudcats and Dell Rapids PBR teams will do battle for the third time this year as they meet in the final game of today’s District 4B Tournament in Salem. The Mudcats come into the district tournament as the second seed. PBR is the seventh seed and has already posted a win by defeating Tea 3-0 yesterday afternoon. The two teams split during the regular season with PBR winning 5-2 on June 7th and the Mudcats winning 9-4 on June 22nd. Today’s game is scheduled for around 6:00 p.m. in Salem.
District 4B Baseball Tournament Set
The District 4B Amateur Baseball Tournament brackets are set. The tournament will be played July 20 – 28 with all games being played in Salem. Click on the link for a pdf printout of the bracket.
PBR Wins Final League Game
Dell Rapids PBR won their final Cornbelt League game of the 2012 season against Humboldt/Hartford 14-1 in seven innings at Rickeman Field Sunday night. PBR pounded out 21 hits over the seven innings, led by Clarence Fjellenger with four hits and an RBI. Jay Bentz added three singles and four RBI. Dan Conrad had two doubles with three RBI and Andy Dunn had three singles and three RBI.
Dunn also picked up the win on the mound pitching all seven innings giving up just one run, which was unearned, on two hits, three walks and struck out nine. Both hits against Dunn went to Bucky Nettles as two singles.
PBR will next play in the district tournament which will run July 20-28 in Salem.
PBR Beats Madison
Dell Rapids PBR left 13 men on base, but scored enough to beat the Madison Broncos 9-7 at Rickeman Field Thursday night (July 12). PBR never trailed in the game jumping out to a 4-0 lead after 3rd inning. Madison cut the lead in half scoring two in the top of the 4th, but PBR scored three in their half of the 4th to take a 7-2 lead. Madison would chip away getting as close as 8-7 after the 7th inning. PBR would add a run in the bottom of the 8th to hold on to the 9-7 win.
Dale Solberg picked up the win for PBR pitching 6 2/3 innings giving six runs, three of which were earned, on seven hits and striking out nine.. Landon Klock pitched the final 2 1/3 innings giving up one run on four hits while striking out two. Ray Wagner took the loss for Madison pitching 4 1/3 innings giving up eight runs, four earned, on six hits while striking out four. Chris Brozik pitched the rest of the game for Madison giving up one run on five hits and striking out four.
Kevin Krull lead PBR with four hits in the ball game and had 3 RBI. Landon Klock had two hits and an RBI, and Clarence Fjellenger had a double with 2 RBI on the night.
PBR will host Humboldt in their final league game on Sunday, July 15, at 7:30 p.m. at Rickeman Field. The game will be webcasted.
Mudcats and Canova 1, 2 in Polls
The Dell Rapids Mudcats retained the top spot in the Class B South Dakota Amateur Baseball Polls this week, while Canova jumped to the number 2 spot. Crofton, NE is third this week followed by Redfield and Alexandria to round out the top five.
The Mudcats and Canova Gang will square off in a battle of the top two teams in the state and the top two teams in the Cornbelt League on Thursday night in Canova at 7:30 p.m. The winner of the ball game will take over first place in the Cornbelt League as both teams are currently 18-2 in league play.
Top 5 Class B Poll
1) Dell Rapids Mudcats
2) Canova
3) Crofton, NE
4) Redfield
5) Alexandria
Mudcats Remain #1
The Dell Rapids Mudcats remained #1 in the latest amateur baseball polls in Class B. Canova, Salem and Harrisburg remained third, fifth and tenth respectively in the latest polls out of the Cornbelt League.
Brandon Valley remains #1 in Class A.
Class B
1. Dell Rapids Mudcats
2. Crofton, NE
3. Canova
4. Redfield
5. Salem
6. Parkston Mudcats
7. Alexandria
8. Clark
9. Dimock-Emery
10. Larchwood, IA
10. Harrisburg
Class A
1. Brandon Valley
2. Renner Monarchs
3. Pierre
4. Yankton
5. Sioux Falls Saints
Mudcats Beat PBR at “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” Night
Friday night baseball during Quarry Days between the two amateur baseball teams from Dell Rapids has seen many exciting and intense games. This year during the 25th annual Take Me Out to the Ballgame event (which was streamed live on Big Sioux Media) looked to be more one-sided than not with the Mudcats jumping out to a 2-run lead after one complete inning and Matt Wilbur on the mound for the Mudcats in total control. The home team added another run in the 2nd and the 3rd but went scoreless in the 4th. Holding a 4 nothing lead into the bottom of the 5th Nate Henry jacked a two run homer moving it up to a 6-nothing score. And then the biggest run producing inning for the Mudcats came in the bottom of the 6th when they produced 3 more runs off of PBR started, Kevin Krull. With the score sitting at 9-zip, Krull was done on the mound and Dale Solberg took over in relief and sat the Mudcats down in order not allowing any more runs. PBR also managed 4 runs of their own in the top of the 8th inning (the final inning for Wilbur on the mound). In the top of the 9th, Mark Hauck came in relief and got the save. Travis Peters was 3 for 4 while Hauck and Henry were both 2 for 4 for the Mudcats while PBR managed only 6 hits. The big hitter was Bruce Mogen, 2 for 4. 
Mudcats still #1 in Class B Amateur Baseball
The Dell Rapids Mudcats remained the top team in the Class B Amateur Baseball polls again this week. Canova (#3) and Salem (#5) also remained in the polls this week, and another Cornbelt League team, Harrisburg, entered the polls tied at #10.
Brandon Valley jumped ahead of Renner this week to take the top spot in Class A.
Class B
1. Dell Rapids Mudcats
2. Crofton, NE
3. Canova
4. Redfield
5. Salem
6. Parkston Mudcats
7. Wynot, NE
8. Dimock-Emery
9. Clark
10. Larchwood, IA
10. Harrisburg
Class A
1. Brandon Valley
2. Renner Monarchs
3. Pierre
4. Sioux Falls
5. Yankton
5. Vermillion Red Sox
Mudcats Defeat Humboldt
The Dell Rapids Mudcats defeated Humboldt 19-2 in Cornbelt League action Thursday night. The Mudcats got out to an early lead by scoring nine runs in the top of the 1st inning highlighted by Tom Pischke’s first career grand slam. Jesse Kurtenbach and Jimmie Bauer also homered for the Mudcats. Aaron Johnson got the win on the mound giving up two runs, one earned, in five innings of work.
The #1 Dell Rapids Mudcats will play host to #3 Salem at 7:30 at Rickeman Field in a battle of top 10 teams.
Mudcats #1 in Class B Amateur Baseball Polls
The South Dakota Amateur Baseball polls were released for this week, and the Dell Rapids Mudcats are ranked #1 in Class B. Two other Cornbelt League teams were in the top 10, with Salem ranked 3rd and Canova 8th. The Renner Monarchs were ranked #1 in the Class A polls this week.
Class B
1. Dell Rapids Mudcats
2. Crofton, NE
3. Salem
4. Redfield
5. Garretson
6. Dimock-Emery
7. Parkston Mudcats
8. Canova
9. Wynot, NE
10. Clark A’s
Class A
1. Renner Monarchs
2. Brandon Valley
3. Pierre
4. Yankton
5. Vermillion
5. Sioux Falls Saints