West Central battled back from a 5-0 deficit, but fell in extra innings at home to Dell Rapids 7-6 on Monday, July 18th.
Dell Rapids got a run right away in the top of the first, another in the second, and three more in the to of the third for an early 5-0 lead. West Central was able to get a couple of runs in the bottom of the third. Keaton Vessells drove home two with a single. After Dell Rapids got one more run in the top of the fifth, West Central scored three times. Will Nester had an RBI sacrifice fly. Jesse Jost scored on an error, and Landen Holewa stole home to make the score 6-5.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Vessells had an RBI single to right field to score Holewa and tie the game 6-6. Dell Rapids got an RBI ground out in the top of the eighth to regain the lead 8-7. West Central had the tying run on second base with two outs. Jonathan Murray reached on an error, but Maison Schuldt was thrown out at home to end the game.
Vessells had two hits and three RBIs. Holewa had two hits. Nester finished with a hit and an RBI. Carter Evans and Rayce Whiting both had a single. Cyrus Maras pitched 2 1/3 innings and allowed five runs, four earned, on four hits and two walks with two strikeouts. Schuldt pitched 2 2/3 innings and allowed an unearned run on three hits and three walks with three strikeouts. Nester pitched three innings and allowed an earned run on two walks and two strikeouts.