Legion baseball season in South Dakota has started and the Dakota Valley Post 319 Panthers are off to a strong start in the senior league for 19-year-olds and younger. The DV squad won their legion ball home opener on Tuesday, June 6 versus Elk-Point Jefferson’s senior legion team by a score of 6-1.

By Beth Hutcheson times1reporter@gmail.com The South Dakota Softball Coaches Association voted on the 2023 All-State teams. In Class A, Dakota Valley’s Logan Miller was named as an infielder and Elk Point-Jefferson’s Josie Curry was recognized as an infielder under honorable mention. Elk Point-Jefferson’s Sophia Giorgio was recognized as an outfield under honorable mention.

The Panther baseball team made it to the final four in the Class B state tournament playoffs on May 29 and May 30. A big win in the quarterfinals and a close loss in the semifinals had Dakota Valley leaving Sioux Falls after many innings of great ball. They would end the spring season with an impressive 15-2 record.

The Elk Point-Jefferson Huskies travelled to Aberdeen to take part in the firstever state sanctioned Class A softball tournament June 1-3. Class AA and Class B also held their tournaments in Aberdeen.

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The South Dakota Softball Coaches Association Academic All-State team includes seniors who were nominated by their coach and have a GPA of 3.5 or above. In Class A, Elk Point-Jefferson’s seniors to receive this recognition were Sophia Giorgio, Grace Griffin, Alyssa Chytka, Josie Curry, Grace Schuh, Jezmarie Stultz-Praster, Danica Torrez and Nicole Wells.

It was the inaugural season for sanctioned high school softball in South Dakota this year and the Panthers were a part of history at the state tournament to start the month of June. Qualifying teams travelled to Aberdeen, with Class A and Class B playing games at The Players Complex, while Class AA played ball on the campus of Northern University.

The South Dakota Softball Coaches Association Academic All-State team includes seniors who were nominated by their coach and have a GPA of 3.5 or above. In Class A, Dakota Valley’s seniors to receive this recognition were Logan Miller and Emma Wiese.

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Two Dakota Valley baseball seniors made the cut as finalists for South Dakota High School Baseball Association’s (SDHSBA) Class B Player of the Year for the 2023 season. Jaxon Hennies and Jake Pruchniak were 2 of 5 players from the state to be named to this exclusive list.