Dell Rapids Baseball Association Archives - Big Sioux Media Sports Network

Summer Baseball on Hold for Now

April 18, 2020 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

In a time of year that typically sees the ball fields full of teams practicing for the upcoming season, this year tells a completely different story. The ball fields currently sit empty and sounds of baseball are missing. This is the second straight year the Dell Rapids Baseball Association has been faced with difficult baseball challenges, however, this year’s challenge with the virus could keep baseball from happening at all.

The DRBA has teams that participate in five different leagues. The two amateur teams play in the Cornbelt League/SD Amateur baseball, the high school club baseball teams is part of the South Dakota High School Baseball Association, there is a legion team, the 15/16 and 13/14 teener teams play in the I-29 League, and the 6U, 8U, 10U, and 12U teams play in the MinnDak League.

The Covid-19 virus has already forced the cancellation of the entire high school club baseball season. The team was only able to hold a handful of practices before being forced to stop, and the season was cancelled before one game was played. The other teams are currently in a “wait and see” time frame right now.

Typically coaches of teams are getting their teams together for practices during this time of year, but this year no teams are practicing. Along with the leagues waiting for more information, the city of Dell Rapids has also closed down the parks and ball fields for use, which adds another layer of complexity to the situation.

Currently the I29 League and MinnDak League are going to make a decision about the season in the first week of May. Typically the leagues begin having games in May, but with the virus and needing to wait to see what that situation will be in a couple of weeks, the leagues will, at the very least, be implementing a different plan for the season if they can play. The South Dakota VFW Baseball office posted on their Facebook page that they will be waiting until June to make a determination on the region and state tournaments. Legion baseball for the state of South Dakota is going to wait until at least May 15th before making a decision on the season. The South Dakota Amateur Baseball Association has indicated they are currently planning on having a season this summer. Typically the amateur season doesn’t start until late May or early June, so no official decision has been made about changes to the season or state tournament, but changes are not off the table.

The DRBA has updates on all of the different age groups on the front page of their website, www.dellrapidsbaseball.com.

So like the DRBA, we wait and see, and hope there can be baseball this summer.

Dell Rapids 13/14 Teeners Capture Region Championship

July 12, 2019 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Photo taken and used with permission by Joni Smith.

A day after qualifying for the 2019 13/14 State A Teener Tournament, the Dell Rapids 13/14 Teener team captured the Class A 14U Northeast region title on Friday, July 12th in Sisseton.

Dell Rapids played four games in three days in Sisseton during the tournament which started on Wednesday, July 10th after a rainout on Tuesday. Dell Rapids opened the tournament with a 21-0 pounding of Milbank on Wednesday, and then followed that with a 17-1 win over Sisseton later that night. Dell Rapids then punched their ticket to the state tournament with a big win over Volga on Thursday by a score 0f 9-6 which also put them into the region championship game.

Flandreau battled through the loser’s bracket to play against Dell Rapids in the regional championship on Friday. The game was close early as both teams scored two runs in the top of the first inning. The score remained tied 2-2 until the bottom of the fourth inning when Dell Rapids added two more runs for a 4-2 lead. Flandreau cut the lead to 4-3 after scoring a run in the top of the fifth, but Dell Rapids scored three times in the bottom of the fifth, and then added five more runs in the bottom of the six inning to secure the win.

Head coach Nate McKee said, “I was happy with how well we hit the ball all week. The hitting was contagious. Defensively we played great. Everyone knew their roles and played well. We have a lot of confidence after winning regions heading to Madison, but we will work on cleaning up a few things during practice before the start of the state tournament.”

Dell Rapids will look to a strong pitching staff to carry them through the state tournament. The South Dakota Class A 14U VFW State Tournament will be held at Flynn Field in Madison Friday, July 19th through Sunday, July 21st. Dell Rapids’ first game of the tournament will be at 5:30 p.m. against Elk Point-Jefferson on Friday.

Bracket information for the tournament can be found by clicking this link.

New Structures Completed for Dell Rapids Baseball/Softball

August 27, 2018 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Two new structures are installed and ready for use by baseball and softball players in Dell Rapids. A brand new batting cage was completed that is located along the right field fence of Field E on the south side diamonds, and a new wooden scoreboard has been installed on Field A on the north side diamonds at City Park.

The batting cage was a joint effort between the Dell Rapids Baseball Association and Dell Rapids Softball Association to help provide more practice space for the increasing number of youth that are participating in baseball and softball in Dell Rapids. The Dell Rapids City Council approved the construction and location of the new batting cage in a meeting back in February. Throughout the summer, the boards worked with local companies and contractors to keep the costs as low as possible. The Dell Rapids Baseball Association was also able to secure grants from the South Dakota VFW and Dells Community Foundation to help offset some costs.

The new wooden manual scoreboard that was installed on Field A was the completion of an Eagle Scout project by Ethan Geraets. It’s similar to the wooden scoreboard that was installed on Field F as part of an Eagle Scout project by Jack Prasek.

Dell Rapids Legion: 2018 State B Champs!

August 1, 2018 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Photo courtesy of Jeff Holm

For the first time in nearly 50 years, the Dell Rapids Legion baseball team can call themselves legion champions! Dell Rapids captured the 2018 State B title in extra innings by defeating McCook/Minor 10-7 on Tuesday, July 31st in Redfield. The last time Dell Rapids won the state legion title was when they won back-to-back titles in 1968 and 1969.

Both teams were held scoreless for the first three and half innings. Dell Rapids finally broke through in the bottom of the fourth inning. Ty Wood drew a bases-loaded two-out walk to score Elijah Story. Keegan Miller than scored on a wild pitch for an early 2-0 lead.

McCook/Minor tied the game in the top of the fifth inning on a two-run single by Kendall Gassman. Trent Kingsbury added an RBI single later in the inning to give McCook/Miner a 3-2 lead. McCook/Minor added two more runs in the top of the sixth inning on errors to push their lead to 5-2.

Dell Rapids pulled within a run in the bottom of the fifth after Miller and Wood scored on an error. McCook/Minor led 5-4 after six innings of play. They would add two more runs on a two-run single by Cole Gassman to make the score 7-4 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning.

Matt Gillogly lined a double to right field to score Eddie Price to cut the lead to 7-5. Story, the very next batter, took the first pitch he saw and drove it over the left field wall for the game-trying two-run home run.

McCook/Minor would load the bases in the top of the eighth inning with one out after a walk, hit by pitch, and single. Story was able to work out of the jam on the mound by getting the next two batters on a pop out to second and a line out to shortstop.

With one out in the bottom of the eighth inning, JD Holm singled to center. Price reached by an error. Gillogly stepped to the plate with Holm and Price on base and one out. On a 3-2 pitch, Gillogly drove a no-doubter over the right field fence for the game-winning three-run home run to give Dell Rapids the title.

Gillogly finished the game with two hits and four RBIs. Price and Miller also had two hits in the game. Story, Holm, and Josh Roemen all had one hit. Story had two RBIs, and Wood also had an RBI. Roemen started the game on the mound pitching six innings giving up five runs, two earned, on eight hits while walking three and striking out six batters. Story pitched the final two innings giving up two earned runs on three hits with two walks and a strikeout.

The team was met by a fire truck and was led back into Dell Rapids down to Rickeman Field where a celebration was had. Dell Rapids finished the season with a 13-6 record.

Photo courtesy of Jeff Holm

Two Big Innings Gives Dell Rapids Legion Big Win

July 28, 2018 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Another five-run inning was all the Dell Rapids Legion baseball team needed to notch their second victory at the 2018 State B Legion Tournament in Redfield. Dell Rapids would add a seven-run inning for good measure on their way to a 12-1 victory over Tabor on Saturday, July 28th.

With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the third inning, Matt Gillogly singled to right field scoring Ty Wood for the first run of the game. Two batters later Elijah Story hit a grand slam home run to left field to give Dell Rapids a 5-0 lead.

Tabor scored their lone run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Joey Slama hit an RBI double that scored Bryce Scieszinski.

Wood hit a sacrifice fly for the second out of the fifth inning, but the flyout scored Keegan Miller to make the score 6-1. Dell Rapids then scored six more times before the third out. Josh Roemen hit an RBI single, Jake Rechtenbaugh and Roemen scored on an error, and Gillogly hit a three-run home run to make the score 12-1. Tabor did not score in the bottom of the fifth inning, and the game ended on the 10-run rule.

Eddie Price pitched a complete game allowing one earned run on two hits while walking three batters and striking out eight. Holm and Gillogly both had two hits in the game. Roemen, Price, Story, Rechtenbaugh, and Wood also had hits. Story and Gillogly both had four RBIs each in the game.

Dell Rapids will play Spearfish on Sunday, July 29th at 7:00 p.m.

Fifth Inning Rally Gives Dell Rapids Legion Win at State

July 27, 2018 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

A five-run fifth inning gave Dell Rapids a win in the opening round of the 2018 State B Legion Tournament in Redfield on Friday, July 27th. Dell Rapids defeated Groton 7-3 to advance in the winner’s bracket.

Groton scored first on a solo home run to left field in the bottom of the second inning. It was the only run allowed by starter Josh Roemen.

Dell Rapids loaded the bases with one out in the top of the fifth inning. JD Holm lined a double to center field to drive home all three runs and give Dell Rapids a 3-1 lead. Matt Gillogly drove home Holm with a double two batters later to extend the lead. Gillogly would later score on a passed ball for the fifth run of the inning. Dell Rapids scored two more times in the top of the seventh inning. Eddie Price scored on a wild pitch, and Tyson Dahler had an RBI groundout to push the lead to 7-1. Groton scored two times in the bottom of the seventh, but Dell Rapids shut the door on a rally to win the game.

Jake Rechtenbaugh and Dahler both had two hits in the game. Holm had one with three RBIs. Gillogly had a hit with an RBI. Dahler also collected an RBI in the game. Roemen earned the win on the mound pitching five innings while giving up just one run on three hits with six strikeouts.

Dell Rapids will play Tabor at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 28th.

Dell Rapids Legion Qualifies for State Tourney

July 20, 2018 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Needing to wait an extra day to play the championship game due to rain, Dell Rapids defeated Madison for the second game in a row to win the Region 2B championship and qualify for the 2018 Class B Legion State Tournament. Dell Rapids won 9-0 at Flynn Field in Madison on Thursday, July 19th.

Dell Rapids scored six times in the bottom of the second inning and never looked back. After back-to-back walks to start the inning, Elijah Story drove home the first run with an RBI single. Jake Rechtenbaugh brought home two more with a single. Tyson Dahler scored the fourth run on a wild pitch, and Josh Roemen scored on a double by JD Holm. Eddie Price hit an RBI single for the final run of the inning.

Dahler added an RBI double in the bottom of the third inning to give Dell Rapids a 7-0 lead. Rechtenbaugh drove home the final two runs on a single in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Rechtenbaugh led the offense with two hits and four RBIs. Dahler, Story, and Holm all had two hits and an RBI. Price had an RBI hit, and Keegan Miller also had a hit.

Price was dominating on the mound. Price went 6 2/3 innings giving up no runs on just four hits while walking just one and striking out 14 Madison hitters. Lealand Randel pitched the final 1/3 of an inning allowing a hit.

The State B Tournament will be held in Redfield Friday, July 27th through Tuesday, July 31st. Dell Rapids will play their opening round game on Friday at 10:00 a.m.

Big Inning Sends Dell Rapids Legion to Region Championship

July 18, 2018 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

A nine-run sixth inning lifted the Dell Rapids Legion baseball team to a 12-5 regional win over Madison at Flynn Field in Madison on Tuesday, July 17th. The win puts Dell Rapids into the region championship game.

Dell Rapids scored first in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI double by Matt Gillogly. Madison tied the game in the top of the second on an RBI single. The two teams were held scoreless in the third inning, and the score was tied 1-1 after three innings of play.

Eddie Price scored on an error in the bottom of the fourth inning to break the tie and give Dell Rapids a 2-1 lead. Madison rallied for four unearned runs in the top of the fifth inning on three Dell Rapids errors to take a 5-2 lead. Price had an RBI single in the bottom of the inning to cut the lead to 5-3.

With two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Dell Rapids offense exploded. Tyson Dahler scored on a wild pitch, Price had a two-run double, Gillogly smacked a three-run home run, Elijah Story added an RBI single and scored on a wild pitch, and Dahler scored the ninth run of the inning on another wild pitch. Dell Rapids then led 12-5 after the sixth inning and held on for the victory.

Gillogly finished 3-3 with four RBIs. Price was 2-3 with three RBIs. Story was 2-4 with an RBI. Josh Roemen, JD Holm, Keegan Miller, Logan Stone, and Dahler all collected hits in the game. Roemen pitched 6 2/3 innings giving up five runs, one earned, on six hits with two walks and 14 strikeouts.

The region championship game will be played at Flynn Field in Madison at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 19th.

Dell Rapids Legion Advances to Region Semifinals

July 17, 2018 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The Dell Rapids Legion baseball team advanced to the semifinals in their regional tournament after a 12-2 over Aurora in the opening round on Monday, July 16th in Madison.

Dell Rapids scored 12 unanswered runs after Aurora started the game with two runs in the top of the first. Dell Rapids cut the lead in half at 2-1 after the first inning on an RBI single by Matt Gillogly.

Dell Rapids took the lead for good in the bottom of the third inning on a three-run home run by Gillogly to make the score 4-2. Two more runs were scored in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI triple by Josh Roemen and an RBI double by JD Holm. Three more runs came home in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI double by Jake Rechtenbaugh and RBI walks to Holm and Gillogly. The final three runs were scored in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single by Rechtenbaugh and a two-run single by Holm.

Roemen, Holm, Gillogly, and Rechtenbaugh all had two hits each in the game. Eddie Price, Keegan Miller, and Logan Stone also had a hit in the game. Gillogly and Holm both had four RBIs. Rechtenbaugh had two RBIs, and Roemen also had an RBI.

Elijah Story pitched 5 2/3 innings giving up two runs, both earned, on four hits while walking five batters and striking out eleven. Lealand Randel pitched the final 1/3 of an inning striking out the lone hitter he faced.

Dell Rapids will play Madison at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 17th in Madison at Flynn Field. The winner will advance to the championship game on Wednesday, July 18th at 8:00 p.m.. The loser of the game will face the winner of Aurora and Garretson on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.

Baseball and Softball in Full Swing in Dell Rapids

May 23, 2018 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

As the school year comes to a close, the summer ball season has begun. After weeks of trying to battle snow storms and wet fields, the youth baseball and softball teams have begun playing games and fans can be heard cheering for their teams every night on the Dell Rapids ball fields.

The Dell Rapids 15/16 Teener team began their season on Monday, May 21^st with a close loss to Volga 11-12 . Two Dell Rapids 13/14 teams, Dells-J and Dells-N, have already played a few games this season. Dells-J is currently 1-1 on the season, and Dells-N is 0-1. The Dell Rapids Legion team will begin their season in early June. Dell Rapids PBR and the Dell Rapids Mudcats amateur baseball teams have also started their 2018 season.

The Dell Rapids 12U and 10U baseball teams are in their second week of games. Dell Rapids has four 12U teams and six 10U teams this year that can be found on the diamonds every Monday and Wednesday night. The 8U baseball teams began their season on Tuesday, May 22^nd, and they play Tuesdays and Thursdays. The 6U teams began their season on Monday, May 21^st and play Mondays and Wednesdays with some games being played at Dells Nursing and Rehab Center. The Dell Rapids 12U, 10U, 8U, and 6U softball teams began their season on Tuesday, May 22^nd. Their games on are Tuesday and Thursday nights.

One new feature has been added to one of the youth fields for this summer. Eagle Scout Jack Prasek put together a manual scoreboard and installed it on Field F for the Dell Rapids Baseball and Softball leagues as part of his Eagle Scout project. The new scoreboard has been a great addition to the field.

Diamonds will be full of baseball games and softball games almost every night of the week through the early part of July. Head down to the fields and catch some exciting games all summer long!