Coming off a first place silver bracket tournament win in Mitchell, the Dell Rapids 14U softball team had another game on Monday, June 14th.  Team Dynamite’s early lead helped them hold off Dell Rapids 10-7.

Dynamite scored a run in the top of the inning.  Dell Rapids tied the game with a run in the bottom of the inning on an RBI ground out by Brynlee Kriens.  Dynamite scored two runs in the top of the second and another run in the top of the third.  Dynamite lead 4-1 after three innings.

Dell Rapids cut the lead in half, 4-2, with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning on an RBI double by Makaylah O’Meara.  Both teams had big innings in the fifth inning, each scoring five runs.  Dell Rapids’ five runs came on two outs.  Elly Olson had an RBI single and later scored on a dropped third strike, O’Meara then hit a three-run home run to cut the lead to 9-7, but that was as close as Dell Rapids could get. Dynamite added one more run in the sixth.

O’Meara had three hits, a home run, triple, and double, along with four RBIs.  Olson had two hits, including a triple, with an RBI.  Kriens had a hit and RBI, and Aubrey Hubers also had a hit.  Kya Alderson allowed 10 runs on the mound on 12 hits with two walks and 12 strikeouts.

The Dell Rapids 14U softball team won the silver bracket of the Lowell Rang Memorial Tournament in Mitchell on Saturday, June 12th and Sunday, June 13th.

Dell Rapids played in a pool play format on Saturday to determine which tournament bracket and seed they would play in a single-elimination tournament on Sunday. 

In the opening game of pool play, Dell Rapids fell to TSC Hurricanes 9-5.  Dell Rapids got three runs in the bottom of the first inning after the Hurricanes scored one, but the Hurricanes scored three runs in the third, three runs in the fourth, and two more in the fifth.  Dell Rapids was held to just one run in the third and one in the fifth after the first inning.  Elly Olson and Kya Alderson both had two hits in the game.  Alderson  pitched six innings allowing nine earned runs on 13 hits with two walks and four strikeouts.

Dell Rapids then played Midwest Speed, and Midwest Speed scored six runs in the first two innings and three more in the sixth to get a 9-4 win over Dell Rapids.  Brynlee Kriens had two hits and an RBI.  Alderson pitched all six innings allowing nine runs on 16 hits with nine strikeouts.

In the final pool play game on Saturday, Dell Rapids earned a victory over Brookings Outlaws.  Brookings scored three times in the top of the first, but Dell Rapids got four runs in the bottom of the inning and then added five more in the bottom of the second for a 9-3 lead.  They had one more run in the third and two more in the fourth for a 12-3 advantage.  Brookings scored five times in the top of the fifth, but Dell Rapids held off Brookings’ rally for the win.  Mikaylah O’Meara had two doubles and five RBIs.  Alderson had five innings on the mound allowing eight runs on 12 hits with four strikeouts.

Dell Rapids earned the #2 seed in the silver bracket and got a first round bye.  Dell Rapids played the Mankato Peppers in the semifinals, and using a seven-run third inning, advanced to the championship game with an 11-1 victory.  O’Meara had three hits, including a triple and double, with two more RBIs.  Addy Van’t Hof had two hits and two RBIs.  Alderson pitched four innings allowing just one run on three hits with four strikeouts.

Dell Rapids drew a familiar opponent for the championship game.  They took the TSC Hurricanes again, but this time Dell Rapids was victorious after scoring eight runs in the middle innings.  Dell Rapids got the win 11-4.  O’Meara had three hits, one of them a double, with five RBIs.  Olson had two hits, including a double, and an RBI.  Alderson pitched once again throwing six innings allowing four runs on 11 hits with three walks and 10 strikeouts.

The South Dakota State Youth Fastpitch tournament was held in Sioux Falls Friday, August 7^th through Sunday August 9^th.   It was a great weekend for the Dell Rapids 14U team.

In the first round, Dell Rapids defeated the Blue Devils from Watertown by a score of 12-0. Maya Lee had three RBI’s with two hits. Her first hit was with bases loaded bringing in three runs. Makayla O’Meara also had a great bat with a hit for two RBI’s and one triple. The Dells girls scored seven runs in the 2^nd inning to make it 12-0. Dell Rapids had six hits during the 3-inning game. Mya Heinitz, Elly Olson, Kya Alderson and O’Meara all had one hit each. Alderson was on the mound. She went three innings with five strikeouts, no walks and no hits.

In the second round of the tournament, Dell Rapids defeated the Luverne Blaze 12-6.  O’Meara would not be denied at the plate when runners were on base, driving in four on three hits to lead Dell Rapids. O’Meara drove in runs on a single in the first, a single in the second, and a double in the third.

Dell Rapids got things started in the first inning when Liz Price scored one run by hitting a triple. Dell Rapids scored six runs in the second inning. Their big bats were led by Price, Alderson, O’Meara, Elly Olson, and Haley Rydell, all driving in runs in the frame.

Dell Rapids saw the ball well racking up 15 hits in the game. Heinitz, O’Meara, Price, Alderson, and Olson each collected multiple hits for the team. O’Meara and Heinitz each collected three hits to lead Dell Rapids.  Price was in the pitcher’s circle. She went four innings, allowing six runs on ten hits and striking out one.

The semifinal game took place right after the Luverne Blaze game Saturday night at 9:30 pm. The Dells girls defeated the Yankton Fury 20–0 to get into the championship game. This was a second match up with Yankton that same week. Dells traveled to Yankton on August 4^th for a double header. On Tuesday night when the first game ending in a tie at 4-4 and winning the second game by two runs, the Dells players came out swinging for the rematch.

Lee led Dell Rapids to victory by driving in six runs. She went 3-for-4 at the plate. Lee drove in runs on a double in the first, a single in the first, and a groundout in the second.  Alderson was on the rubber. She surrendered zero runs on one hit over three innings, striking out five and walking zero.

Dell Rapids racked up 17 hits in the game. Lee, Heinitz, O’Meara, Josie Baumberger, Alderson, and Olson each collected multiple hits.  O’Meara, Heinitz, and Lee all had three hits to lead the team.  Heinitz led Dell Rapids with two stolen bases. Dell Rapids had eight stolen bases in total.

In the championship game, the Dells bats were on fire again with a 19–1 win over Sparks06.  Price had three RBI’s with two hits.  O’Meara also had a great bat with two hits and two RBI’s with one triple.  Olson and Alderson had two hits and two RBI’s. Newcomer Abby Timm had a nice bunt that drove in two RBI’s to help with the score in the 2^nd inning.

With the big bats, the Dells girls scored 11 runs in the 2nd inning to make it 19-1. Dell Rapids had 15 hits during the 3-inning game. Heinitz, Olson, Alderson, O’Meara, Price, and Timm all had two hits each. Josie Baumberger, Lee, and Rydell each had one hit each.  Alderson was on the mound.  She went three innings with three strikeouts, one walk while allowing two hits and one run.