RTR 10U ends season

The RTR 10U baseball team recently completed their abbreviated 2020 season. Players and coaches pictured, from left to right in front, are Tucker Shrunk, Macrae Peterson, Riley King, Levi Kraft, Chris Janish and Aiden Wichmann. In back are Jonah Johnson, Cody King, Bennet Bedow, Monique Martinez, Justin Kerkaert, Michah Johnson, Lincoln Schreurs, Lake Wichmann, Todd Wichmann and Jessi Wichmann.

Area athletes compete on 14U SD State Youth Fastpitch Tournament team

The South Dakota state champion youth fastpitch team from Dell Rapids— Haley Rydell, Makayla O’Meara, Liz Price, Elly Olson, Maya Lee, Abby Timm, Kya Alderson, Josie Baumberger and Maya Heinitz. Not pictured are Head Coach Jenny Alderson and Assistant Coach Robert O’Meara.

The South Dakota State Youth Fastpitch tourna­ment was held in Sioux Falls Friday, Aug. 7 through Sunday, Aug. 9. It was a great weekend for the Dell Rapids 14U team.
In the first round, Dell Rapids defeated the Blue Devils from Watertown by a score of 12-0. Maya Lee had three RBIs with two hits. Her first hit was with bases loaded bring­ing in three runs. Makayla O’Meara also had a great bat with one hit for two RBIs and one triple…

For the full story, read this week’s Tyler Tribute.

Fall sports will change this year

Last year’s first-year RTR cross country team: (from left) Brice Roelofs, Aidan Johnson, Gabby Wieme, Grace Klumper and Faith Thomsen.

By Mark Wilmes
tributeeditor@gmail.com

 
With guidance sent out by the Minnesota State High School League earlier this month, RTR football and volleyball will move to spring of 2021, leaving only cross country competing this fall.
RTR head football coach Josh Fredrickson said the news came as a disappointment to many…

For the full story, read this week’s Tyler Tribute.

Fall sports delayed until spring by MSHSL

RTR Head Volleyball Coach Daynica Brown

By Mark Wilmes
tributeeditor@gmail.com

 
The Minnesota State High School League’s Board of Directors, at its meeting on Aug. 4, approved moving football and volleyball to a modified spring season, with boys and girls cross country remaining in the fall for now. In a statement, MSHSL Executive Director Erich Martens said the board tried to balance the need for activities while keeping students healthy…

For the full story, read this week’s Tyler Tribute.

Volleyball camp

RTR Volleyball Camp was held earlier this week for 4-6 grade. Pictured in the foreground are Laken Baartman and Payton Johansen practicing their volleyball skills.

Local fire squad comes out on top

The Ruthton/Holland Fire Department Team won the Woodstock Fire/EMS Tournament on Saturday, Aug. 8, defeating Woodstock Fire/EMS, Woodstock Non-Fire, and Pipestone. Pictured from left to right in front are Andy Schelhaas, Merle Zeinstra, Matt Schelhaas, Devin Schulze, Nathan McConnell and Chris Schulze; in back are Nathan Boeve, Jared Dagel, Casey Fritz, Collin Moeller, Cody Fritz, Brent Dagel and Nick Schulze.

Royals’ season ends vs Windom

Aiden Wichmann scores during Friday’s season-ending loss to Windom.

Cody Wichmann throws a pitch during Friday’s playoff game in Ruthton.

Royals head into playoffs

The Ruthton Royals head into playoff action tonight in Windom at 7:30 p.m. Game two is slated for Friday at 7:30 in Ruthton.

Royal return

Managers and umpires met at home plate before the game to exchange lineup cards as baseball returned to Ruthton when the Royals faced the Tracy Engineers last Thursday.

For more photos, read this week’s Tyler Tribute.

RTR grad featured on ESPN segment

RTR graduate Alex Schwing was featured in a nationally televised ESPN story last week.

By Mark Wilmes
tributeeditor@gmail.com

Many a young sports-mind­ed person over the years has watched their heroes covered on ESPN and dreamed of a day when he or she might show up on the popular sports network. For most, that never moves past the dream stage—especially for a young person growing up in small town America. This week, Alex Schwing is still fumbling through the reality that an ESPN crew showed up in Storm Lake, Iowa—much less that they were there to interview him. Schwing was featured in a story by ESPN’s Elizabeth Merrill on the reopen­ing of high school baseball in Iowa, where the baseball season plays out during the summer months.
“I was actually spending a night with my parents in Lake Benton as I had some doctor ap­pointments to attend at Avera Tyler,” Schwing recalled. “I had to rush back down to Storm Lake to get to baseball practice. On my way home, I noticed an email notification on my smart­watch from someone at ESPN. I just had to check it right away. It was one of their analysts looking to interview me.”

For the full story, read this week’s Tyler Tribute.