Titans claim first State softball title
In only the second sanctioned State A Softball Tournament in South Dakota, the Tea Area Titans captured the State title for the first time in a come from behind 9-5 victory over defending champs West Central in Aberdeen.
The title game was a rematch of last season’s Championship game, only this time Tea Area used an explosive seventh inning to score six runs to take the 9-5 lead and eventual win.
West Central led 5-0 through four innings but Tea Area fought back, scoring two runs in the fifth and one in the sixth to only trail by two runs heading into the seventh.
In the seventh, the scoring began when Kalli Boom hit a pop fly and an error by the right fielder for West Central scored Abby Boom, who walked on the previous at bat, and advanced K. Boom to third. Sydney Ganschow then doubled to score K. Boom, tying the game at 5-5. Emily Froendt singled to center field but was able to reach second on the throw and Ganschow advanced to third. Addisyn Hansen singled on a line drive scoring both Ganschow and Froendt, giving the Titans their first lead of the game. The scoring continued as Emersyn Erck singled to score Allie Wallum who came in for Hansen. Skyler Haines then doubled on a fly ball, scoring Erck and giving the Titans a 9-5 lead.
The Titans held on for the win and their first Class A Softball title in what marks their last season at Class A. Tea Area will compete in Class AA next year.
Beginning on the mound for the Titans in the Championship game was Hansen who gave up five hits and five runs over three and two-thirds innings. She recorded three strike outs and walked three. Froendt pitched three and one-third innings in relief, surrendering five hits while striking out three.
Prior to their win over West Central in the Championship game on Saturday, June 1, the Titans moved their way through the bracket with a Thursday, May 30 win over Beresford, 16-0 and a Friday, May 31 win over Dell Rapids, 7-1.
In their impressive win over Beresford on Thursday, the Titans scored six runs in both the second and third innings with another three coming in the bottom of the fourth, ending the game.
Recording two hits in the game were K. Boom, Ganschow, Hansen, Haines, Shealey Geelan, and A. Boom. Froendt and Erck also collected a hit with Froendt hitting a home run in the third inning to score three runs.
On the mound for the Titans was Hansen who pitched the entire game. She allowed one hit and zero runs over four innings. She recorded eight strike outs.
In the win over Dell Rapids on Friday, the Titans got going again early, scoring two runs in the first and three in the second to take a 5-1 lead.
The Titans scored one more run in the top of the fourth and one more in the top of the sixth to take the 7-1 victory, advancing them to the Championship game for the second straight year.
At the plate, K. Boom collected four hits in four at bats. She doubled in the sixth inning, singled in the first inning, singled in the second and singled in the fourth to lead the Titans.
Froedt collected two hits in the game and Erck and Morgan Sehr also got a hit.
On the mound, Froendt earned the win surrendering one hit and zero runs over four and one-thrid innings. She recorded three strike-outs. Hansen led things off on the mound, giving up three hits and one run over two and two-thirds innings, striking out two and walking one.
Named to the All Tournament team from Tea was Froendt and K. Boom.