REDFIELD – Dell Rapids finished what it started Tuesday afternoon. The team with the best record in Class B American Legion baseball, put an exclamation point on the season by winning the state championship with a 5-2 decision over Elk Point-Jefferson.

“It’s a lot to do with just player leadership. We had guys that really wanted it,” said Dell Rapids coach Danny Miller of winning the state title. “They were pretty emotional afterwards, and it’s because it meant a lot to them and they approached it that way all year.”

After having a 28-game winning streak snapped on Monday night by EPJ, the Phils found themselves facing a two-run deficit to start the title contest.

Miller knew his squad was facing battle-tested players on the Huskies.

“We knew that they were a bunch of good athletes,” Miller said. “A lot of those kids were on that state football championship team, and they’ve been there and they understand what it’s like.”

Miller also knew that his players would not panic.

“We all stayed pretty calm and believed that we were going to come back,” Miller said.

Dell Rapids took advantage of its speed and athleticism to turn the game around. The Phils finished with eight stolen bases and put the pressure on EPJ.

“It’s kind of been our bread and butter,” Miller said.

Dell Rapids scored two runs on a bunt single from Brayden Pankonen to highlight a three-run third inning.

“So Brayden Pankonen, whenever he’s in that situation he can do whatever he wants,” Miller said. “When we give a bunt sign to him, he and I had a conversation in the middle of the season, that it’s always a bunt for a hit, because he does a really good job handling the bat. He’s just a playmaker.”

The Phils were able to squeeze out a second run on the bunt when Dylan Kindt, who was on second, rounded third and went halfway down the line.

“Their first baseman was just kind of walking away with the ball,” Miller said, “and I just started yelling at him, ‘Go, Go Go,’ and he went.”

While Dell Rapids added two more runs, Kindt had all the support he already needed, allowing just four hits before being relieved by Pankonen in the seventh.

The Phils were able to save two of their top pitchers for the final day of action.

“We went into it with that plan from the get go, that Dylan was going to throw game one and he wasn’t going to cross that 80 (pitch) line, so we could toss him back on Tuesday,” Miller said. “And it worked out really well that Brayden Pankonen was also available, so that we had him in relief.”

Mason Stubbe had a pair of hits to lead the Phils.

Kindt was named the Class B Legion Player of the Year, and the Phils won the Team Sportsmanship award. Logan Winckler of Tabor won the Big Stick award.

Dell Rapids, which finished 29-3, has a special connection to Redfield.

“Dell Rapids loves Redfield,” Miller said. “Three of our four state championships (1968, 2018 and 2023) were in Redfield.”

When asked what he will remember most of this championship season, Miller responded, “This group of kids. It’s a special group. Honestly, the player leadership is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. They’re just awesome. We have so many kids that just mean a lot to us. We’re just glad for them that they were able to finish what they had started at the beginning of the year.”

Elk Point-Jefferson 200 000 0 – 2 4 1

Dell Rapids 003 101 x – 5 7 1

Kayden Moore and Jacob Gale; Dylan Kindt, Brayden Pankonen (7) and Treyse Eastman. 2B – Dell Rapids, Jack Henry.