By Jon Akre

605 Sports

MILBANK — For the second time in the last three seasons, Dell Rapids Post 65 is Class B Legion champions.

The Phils won four of five games en route to their fourth legion championship in program history, ending the season with an 11-0 shutout win over Parkston in five innings at Legion Field.

Tuesday’s win marked the second win over Parkston in three days at the state tournament, with Dell Rapids winning in a narrow 9-8 extra-inning bout with Post 194 in nine innings on the third day of the tournament.

PHOTOS: @DellsVarsityBSB captures the state Class B legion title Tuesday with a 11-0 win over Parkston in Milbank. (Photos by Rodney Haas / 605 Sports) - https://t.co/nvONP5kpLV

605 Sports (@605_sports) August 6, 2025

“It’s so important to win those first three games,” said Dell Rapids coach Danny Miller. “We had such a battle with Parkton in that third game and whoever didn’t win that game was going to be in a little bit of trouble. Luckily we were able to pull that one off.”

The win had guaranteed Dell Rapids a spot in the state championship, but would end up falling to Dakota Valley 14-8 Monday night, forcing the winner-take-all championship Tuesday.

“We always talk about keeping our composure,” said Miller. “They did that really well. When things got tough, our kids, they got tougher.”

DR shortstop Drake Eastman says the loss to Dakota Valley was an important reminder for the Phils that in the state tournament, nothing is guaranteed.

Dell Rapids hoists the Class B legion championship trophy following its 11-0 win over Parkston Tuesday, August. 5 2025 in Milbank. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

“My freshman year it was kind of the same situation when we won it and we lost that game to Elk Point,” said Eastman. “It kind of just flips a switch and you’re like this is a reality, like you can lose. So it definitely helped last night that we lost so we had to bounce back today a little better.”

After Parkston clipped Dakota Valley 1-0 in the opening game Tuesday, the rematch was set. But even in a winner-take-all championship, Post 65 had the advantage with left-handed ace Tad Tjaden on the bump.

Tjaden got the championship start, tossing a 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts, which was the eventual tone setter for what was to come in the following innings. The Phils’ offense spotted Tjaden two runs in the first inning, adding three more in the second and a six-spot in the third for an 11-0 lead early.

“We wanted to keep the pressure on,” said Miller. “You never know what’s going to happen. It’s the state championship, you just don’t take anything for granted and we want to make sure we earn it and we play hard to the finish.”

Offensively, Eastman drove in four runs on a double and a walk, Cole Ruesink had an RBI on a hit and two walks, Tjaden, Jackson Peppel and Kenny Swanson each drove in a run on a walk, Connor Hanson had two RBIs while Gauge Bunkers recorded two hits to round out the potent DR lineup in the championship game.

And while the offense did its thing, Tjaden threw 11 strikeouts in five innings, allowing just two hits in 59 pitches. 

“Probabbly the best pitcher I’ve ever coached,” said Miller on Tjaden. “We’ve been lucky to have him.”

The Southwest Minnesota State baseball commit would go on to earn the tournament MVP award afterwards for his 10.2 shutout innings, allowing just four hits and a walk while striking out 24 in two tournament appearances.

“It feels good,” Tjaden said on winning the Tournament MVP award. “I wasn’t batting the greatest but I was pitching good.”

Dell Rapids celebrates its Class B legion championship with a 11-0 win over Parkston Tuesday, August. 5 2025 in Milbank. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

The championship win marked the third Legion title since 2018 for DR, and the eighth championship across both Legion and the high school seasons, but it was the first time the program had ever swept both titles in one year.

“It was our goal after the spring,” said Miller. “We wanted to win the high school and the Legion, it’s the first time we’ve accomplished it. We had to remind ourselves that was our goal, reset once in the summer and even today they were still talking about it.”

But the award coach Miller is most proud of is the team sportsmanship award which was given to Dell Rapids Post 65 for the third consecutive year, adding on to yet another incredible and outstanding season for the Phils.

“It just shows that we go about things most of the time the right way,” said Miller. “Sometimes we’re human and may make some mistakes and get a little excited at times. It’s an intense game, but overall we try to go about things the right way.”