Titans drop road contest to Brandon Valley

The Tea Area High School softball team battled throughout but ultimately fell 10-5 on the road to Brandon Valley on Thursday, April 16.

Tea Area threatened early in the top of the first inning, as Abby Boom drew a walk and Brynn Kline followed with another free pass. The Titans looked poised to strike when Allie Wallum delivered a deep fly ball for a double, but Brandon Valley’s defense cut down the runner at the plate to end the inning and keep the game scoreless.

Brandon Valley capitalized in the bottom half, using a combination of timely hitting and a Tea Area error to jump out to a 3-0 lead. 

The Lynx continued to build momentum in the second inning, adding two more runs on a string of singles to extend the lead to 5-0.

Tea Area broke through in the fourth inning. After singles by Morgan Sehr and Anna Somsen, the Titans loaded the bases. Paige Sabers put the ball in play, reaching on an error that allowed Somsen to score and cut the deficit to 5-1.

Brandon Valley answered immediately, plating three runs in the bottom of the fourth behind multiple hits, including RBI singles, pushing the lead to 8-1. The Lynx added another run in the fifth to make it 9-1.

The Titans mounted their biggest rally in the sixth inning. Consecutive singles from Abby Boom and Ava Opland set the stage for Brynn Kline, who delivered an RBI single. Wallum followed with a clutch double that drove in two more runs, trimming the deficit to 9-4.

However, Brandon Valley responded in the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run to left field, extending the lead to 10-4.

Tea Area added one final run in the seventh inning. Morgan Sehr reached on a walk and later scored on a double by Preslie Benning to make it 10-5, but the Titans were unable to continue the rally.

Wallum led the Titans offensively with two doubles and multiple RBIs, while Kline added a pair of hits and an RBI. Opland also contributed multiple hits in the loss.

Kaylyn Hall and Brynn Kline handled pitching duties with Hall striking out two batters and Kline striking out three. 

Tea Area will be at Brookings on Thursday, April 23 and will host Sioux Falls Roosevelt on Friday, April 24 in a 4 p.m. match-up.