Community helps Dell Rapids baseball beat Mother Nature

DELL RAPIDS, S.D. (KELO) — The Dell Rapids baseball team has hosted a playoff regional each of the last three seasons, but Tuesday’s heavy rain left their field quite wet. Players, coaches and volunteers helped the Quarriers beat Mother Nature.

Dell Rapids received more than an inch of rain on Tuesday.

The high school baseball team was set to host the Region 3B playoffs, but like many other games, it was postponed.

The team knew there was a risk of heavy rain, so on Monday, they went next door to the softball field to borrow their infield tarp.

“It’s never really been used, so we just kind of Hail Mary’d and try to throw it down. I don’t know if it’s better or worse. It’s probably a little better at second and the same as we were expecting at short, but I think we have a shot,” Dell Rapids head coach Danny Miller said.

The high winds and late day sunshine helped to soak up some water, but now the team had to begin the process of moving as much as possible of what was left.

First came the standing water on the tarp. Dozens of players used brooms to brush the water into the grass, before beginning the difficult process of rolling up the tarp in the wind.

While they did that, parents and volunteers moved water near first and third base by the wheel barrow loads.

After more than an hour at work, plenty of water had been removed and the field slowly began to dry up.

“We have quite a few extra hands, which is great. People just showing up from the community, raking, getting muddy and getting dirty. It’s awesome, Miller said.

The hard work paid off as the Quarriers got to host one last time at Rickeman Field, with a chance to reach the state tournament.

“I didn’t want their last game ever to be on Rickeman Field in a Dell Rapids high school baseball uniform to be last week, not knowing it was his final game,” Dell Rapids parent Travis Eastman said. “We want to do everything we can to give these seniors to have their final home game here in Dell Rapids.”

Dell Rapids claimed a 3-0 win over McCook Central/Montrose. They’ll play for a spot in the state tournament tonight at 7:30.

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