Titans take State runner-up honors at inaugural State sanctioned Tournament

Last November, the SDHSAA board of directors officially adopted girls high school softball as a sanctioned sport in South Dakota, and then in January of this year, a decision was made to make it a spring sport. The Mt. Rushmore state was the last state in the nation to sanction high school girls softball.

In its inaugural season, Tea Area High School’s softball team claimed State A runner-up honors at the first-ever sanctioned State A Tournament held in Aberdeen June 1-3.

The Titans began their State run with an opening match-up against Madison. The Titans snatched the lead late in the game, scoring one run in the top of the seventh to take the 5-4 victory.

Highlights for the Titans in the win was a home run by Emerson Erck in the fifth inning.

Addisyn Hansen handled pitching duties for the Titans. She pitched six and two-thirds innings, allowing four runs on eight hits and striking out 13.

Tea Area racked up seven hits in the game. Erck, Kalli Boom, and Jillian Arp each had two hits to lead the team.

Following the win over Madison, the Titans advanced to the second round at State. Awaiting them was the top seeded Dell Rapids Quarriers.

The game was tied at nine all when the Tea Area’s Emily Froendt hit a home run in the top of the fifth, scoring two runs. That started a scoring frenzy for Tea Area who scored six runs in the fifth inning. They scored another two in the top of the sixth and seven in the top of the seventh to get the decisive 22-9 victory.

Skyler Haines went 4-for-6 at the plate to lead the Titans at bat. She doubled in the first, doubled in the second, homered in the fifth and homered again in the seventh. Also scoring a home run for the Titans in the game was Hansen.

Hansen led things off on the mound, pitching three and a third innings, allowing five runs on six hits, striking out five and walking one. Froendt pitched just over three innings, allowing seven runs, four hits and recording two strike-outs.

The Titans had an outstanding 26 hits in the game. Hansen, Haines, Erck, Arp, Ava Opland, Froendt, Boom, Nevaeh Berg, and Sydney Ganschow all managed multiple hits for the Titans.

With the big win over the Quarriers, the Titans found themselves in the State Championship title game against undefeated West Central.

West Central got on the board in the second inning, scoring one run.

They scored one more in the top of the fourth, and added two in the top of sixth. The Titans were unable to get their bats going, falling to West Central 4-0 in the Championship game.

Hansen took the loss for the Titans on the mound. She surrendered four runs on eight hits over seven innings. She recorded three strike-outs. Berg led the Titans at bat, going 2-for-3 at the plate. Also recording hits in the game were Hansen and Froendt.

The Titans ended their inaugural season with a 12-6 record and State A runner-up honors.

Hansen and Haines earned All Tournament team honors for their performances at the State Tournament. They are pictured below.