Softball - SDPB State Championship Coverage

Same passion, different jerseys. Sisters Rylee and Syenna Halverson both crush it as catchers—on different teams! Rylee reps Dell Rapids, while Syenna holds it down at Tri-Valley.

The Trojans came into this season with extra motivation to get it done. They entered the state tournament as the No. 1 seed. After beating Vermillion in the quarterfinals and sneaking past Dell Rapids in the semi’s, West Central once again found themselves in the state championship game – only this time against Tri-Valley.

Avon is at the ‘B’ girls state softball tournament for the first time this season. And while the ride of this season was special for the Lady Pirates team, there was a void in the bleachers behind the backstop that has made it challenging for members on the team.

Craig Mattick’s guest on In Play is longtime coach and administrator Merlin Doyle. One of the first officers of the South Dakota High School Athletic Directors Association when it formed in 1973, Merlin helped launch girls track and wrestling programs, coached basketball and football, and served as both principal and athletic director. He spent 31 years in the Wall School District. Joined by his wife, Mary Jane, Merlin—now 90—may not recall every moment, but his passion for the kids and the Wall community remains as strong as ever.