By 605 Sports Staff

After falling to West Central 4-0 in the 2023 Class A state championship game the Tea softball team has opened the 2024 season on a tear. 

The Titans, who average nearly 10 runs per game are 4-1 with wins over Elk Point-Jefferson (15-7), Tri-Valley  (18-7), Dakota Valley (10-3) and Yankton (10-0). The softball team is on top of the Class A seed points, as of Thursday, April 18, and their lone loss of the season (6-10) came to undefeated and top seeded Harrisburg on April 4. 

Class A seed points as of 04/18:

1. Tea Area, 4-1, 45.600; 2. Madison, 5-1, 45.167; 3. Dell Rapids, 3-1, 45.000; 4. West Central, 4-0, 44.750; 5. Beresford, 5-2, 42.571; 6. Vermillion, 4-1; 42.400; 7. Dakota Valley, 3-2, 42.000; 8. Sioux Valley, 3-1, 42.000; 9. Tri-Valley, 3-1, 41.250; 10. Elk Point-Jefferson, 2-5, 39.143; 11. Flandreau, 3-5, 39.000; 12. Parkston, 2-2, 38.500; 13. Lennox, 2-4, 38.167; 14. Mobridge-Pollock, 2-1, 37.333; 15. Wagner, 2-6, 37.250.

Defending Class A champion West Central is off to a 4-0 start. Like Tea Area, the West Central bats have been crushing it early this season, averaging 15 runs per game. The Trojans shut out Lennox (10-0) and Elk Point-Jefferson (18-0) and have a 16-1 win over Baltic and a 17-7 win over Dell Rapids.

The Quarriers from Dell Rapids were third in the 2023 Class A state tournament and currently are the No. 3 seeded team in Class A. Dell Rapids had multiple weather cancellations early in the season, and after defeating Sioux Falls Christian, Vermillion and Madison, took their lone loss of the season (7-17) to West Central on April, 13. 

Games to watch through the weekend:

Thursday, April 18: Dell Rapids @ Tri-Valley, Sioux Falls Christian @ Beresford, Baltic @ Sioux Valley. 

Friday, April 19: Tea Area @ Lennox; Tri-Valley @ Vermillion; Parkston @ Bon Homme.

Saturday, April 20: Sioux Falls Christian @ Madison; Beresford @ Tea Area.