The top seeds stated a convincing case at the top during the opening round of the Class A state softball tournament, which opened Thursday at South Players Complex.

Three of the four games ended on run-rule criteria with top-seeded and undefeated West Central cruising past Elk Point-Jefferson 15-0, second-seeded Dell Rapids defeating Dakota Valley 11-0 and third-seeded Tea Area blanking Beresford 16-0.

The lone regulation contest was a 7-2 win for Madison over fifth-seeded Tri-Valley.

“It means everything,” said Bulldog freshman Ella Malone of snagging that opening round victory. “The seniors mean a lot to me. It’s my last year playing with them. I’m just a freshman and I have a lot to look forward to, but I just want to have a lot of fun at state with them and make a lot of memories.”

Madison led 3-0 after four innings thanks to single runs in the first, second and fourth innings before plating three more runs in the fifth to take control of the game. Malone drove in two runs in the game, one on a solo homer in the fourth before plating Karley Lurz with a single to cap that three-run fifth inning.

“I wasn’t too nervous,” Malone said. “I have a lot of faith in my team hitting-wise. We can all bat. I trust my team, and I know we can do it.”

Malone said her approach at the plate is simple.

“I’m just swinging at anything that’s close,” she said. 

Amanda Vacanti pitched a complete game for the Bulldogs, giving up two earned runs in the top of the seventh, but striking out nine batters in the win.

Madison’s victory was about the closest thing to close, the next being an 11-0 victory from Dell Rapids to open the afternoon session.

The Quarriers scored early and often in the game, scoring three times in the first, four runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth.

Second baseman Claire Wynja and Jaycee Tebay each collected three hits, with Wynja scoring three times and driving in six of the team’s 11 runs, including the final two that sealed the victory for Dell Rapids.

“I feel like it’s always important (to get a good start),” Wynja said. “First inning, put up some runs. It’s definitely a confidence booster when you put up a few in the first inning so you can relax a little bit. Everybody’s nervous a little bit.”

Wynja proved productive from the start, homering in her first at bat, and driving in two runs on each of her three hits.

“I like to keep the same approach every time,” she said of her mindset in the batter’s box. “I don’t think too much about it. Just be confident and think base hit, just try and get on base and get my team the win.”

But, she added, that responsibility doesn’t fall solely on her.

“Definitely a good team win,” Wynja said. “Everybody got hits.”

As a team, the Quarriers collected a dozen hits, half of which went for extra bases. Lexi Ingalls had a pair of doubles, Tebay tripled twice and homered once, while Wynja notched that first-inning round-tripper.

Katie Kvigne, meanwhile, gave up just one hit and a pair of walks while striking out five on the mound for the Quarriers.

Elsewhere, West Central scored 13 runs in the first inning of a 15-0, three-inning victory over Elk Point-Jefferson. The Trojans got at least one hit from all nine batters, with six of the nine collecting multi-hit games. Ayla Kramer drove in six runs on a pair of bases-clearing triples.

Tea Area needed four innings to get past Beresford. The Titans notched back-to-back six-spots in the second and third innings.

Abby Boom and Kalli Boom each scored three runs for the Titans, while Skyler Haines drove in four and Emily Froendt had a 3-run homer.

Action resumes today with consolation games beginning at 10 a.m. Championship semifinal contests begin at 2:30 p.m. Games feature Elk Point-Jefferson against Tri-Valley at 10, followed by Dakota Valley against Beresford at 12:30 p.m. West Central plays Madison around 2:30 p.m., capped by Dell Rapids against Tea Area at 5 p.m.

Elk Point-Jefferson 000 – 0 0 3

West Central 13 0 2 – 15 14 0

Lauren McDermott and Hannah Nearman; Emillee Stofferahn and Hanna Raethz. 2B – West Central, Raethz 2, Caitlyn Hoff. 3B – West Central, Ayla Kramer 2, Addy Kunzweiler, Stofferahn. 

Tri Valley 000 000 2 – 2 4 2

Madison 110 131 x – 7 9 0

Emry Jones and Syenna Bird; Amanda Vacanti and Evie Lurz. 2B – Madison, Karley Lurz. HR – Tri-Valley, Jones; Madison, Ella Malone.

Dakota Valley 000 0 – 0 1 1

Dell Rapids 311 42 – 11 12 0

Annie Bourne, Emma Barnett (5) and Mia Ribe; Katie Kvigne and Rylee Halverson. 2B – Dell Rapids, Lexi Ingalls (2). 3B – Dell Rapids, Jaycee Tebay (2). HR – Dell Rapids, Claire Wynja, Tebay

Beresford 000 0 – 0 1 4

Tea Area 166 3 – 16 14 0

Rylie Laurvick, Brynlee Mohning (3) and Ivy Keiser; Addisyn Hansen and Kalli Boom. 2B – Tea Area, A. Boom, Shealey Geelan, Hansen. 3B – Tea Area, K. Boom, Skyler Haines. HR – Tea Area, Emily Froendt.