Dell Rapids Mudcats 8, Larchwood Diamonds (Iowa) 6

MITCHELL — The Dell Rapids Mudcats survived a late push by Larchwood to earn a Class B state amateur baseball win on Tuesday at Cadwell Park.

The Mudcats led 8-1 after six innings, but the Diamonds scored the game’s final six runs and had two runners in scoring position in the ninth inning. Dell Rapids’ Dalton Lehnen struck out Keaton Grevengoed and Chase Vander Feen for the final two outs to preserve the two-run victory.

Kris Regas earned the win for Dell Rapids, last year’s Class B state champions. Regas, a left-hander, struck out 10 batters, scattered five hits, allowed two earned runs and walked three batters in his seven-inning start. Mark Abrahamson’s two-out, three-run homer over the 340-foot left field fence pushed Dell Rapids’ lead to 5-0 in the second inning.

In the fifth inning, Trevor Freudenthal RBI single stretched the Mudcats’ lead to 7-0 and Dalton Lehnen’s RBI sac fly made it 8-1 in the sixth inning. 

The Diamonds plated four runs in the seventh inning, including a Cody Groskruetz two-run double to get within 8-5. Chase Vander Feen’s RBI double in the eighth inning made it 8-6. 

Groskruetz and Grevengoed led Larchwood with two hits apiece. Larchwood starter Brian Wede lasted six innings, striking out five batters, walking four, allowing six earned runs and scattering five hits. 

Dell Rapids’ Ty Hoglund, Chad Hunt and Weston Hansen added hits. The Mudcats will play Dimock-Emery at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Cadwell Park.