Rapid City, SD – May 28, 2025 – The Rapid City Stevens Raiders varsity softball team has secured its spot in the South Dakota state tournament, following a dominant 10-0 victory over the Tea Area Titans-Varsity on Wednesday. The decisive win was anchored by a phenomenal performance from Senior pitcher and infielder Lainey Van Zee.
Van Zee, a key figure for the Raiders throughout the season, stifled the Titans’ offense, allowing no hits and no runs over six innings while recording an impressive 12 strikeouts and issuing only one walk. Her control and velocity proved insurmountable for the Tea Area lineup, demonstrating the formidable pitching prowess that has become a hallmark of her play.
Offensively, Van Zee was equally impactful, accounting for five of the Raiders’ ten runs. She launched two home runs, one in the third inning that scored two runs and another in the sixth that drove in three, extending the Raiders’ lead to insurmountable levels. Her offensive outburst underscored the critical role she plays in Stevens’ success.
The Raiders initiated their scoring in the third inning with Van Zee’s initial two-run blast. The sixth inning saw a collective offensive surge, with Macy Muth contributing an RBI single and Addie Hock adding a two-run single before Van Zee’s second home run sealed the 10-0 shutout.
Tea Area’s Kaylyn Hall was tagged with the loss, surrendering eight runs (three earned) on eight hits over five and two-thirds innings.
Stevens’ offense totaled 10 hits on the day, with Hock and Van Zee each collecting three hits. Muth also contributed two hits to the Raiders’ strong offensive showing.
This victory propels the Rapid City Stevens Raiders to the state tournament, where they will undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with, propelled by the standout capabilities of Lainey Van Zee and a cohesive team effort. Their performance against Tea Area serves as a strong indicator of their potential to make a deep run in the upcoming championship.
