Something special was brewing at The Pond last summer, and the Parkston Rays are determined to prove it was no fluke.
After a middling 6-6 start to their 2025 campaign, the Rays caught fire when it mattered most, posting a dominant 14-3 record down the stretch to capture the Class B amateur baseball state championship in their very first tournament appearance. Now, as they begin their title defense, this young and hungry squad is out to show they belong among South Dakota's elite.
"When they first organized the team, everyone hoped for success, but it didn't go their way at first," said player-manager Doug Sudbeck. "Those kids knew they were better than that. Finally, they put it together and went on a run."
That perseverance paid off in a big way. After going a combined 14-36 over their first two seasons, the Rays flipped the script with a 20-9 record in 2025—a remarkable turnaround that has the entire Sunshine League taking notice.
What makes this team so dangerous? A young, versatile roster that's just beginning to hit its stride. Much of the lineup is still under 30, and last year's infusion of talent from the Parkston Post 194 American Legion squad gave the club the depth it needed to compete with the state's best.
"Our talent is just as good as anyone in the state," Sudbeck said. "We have a great bunch of guys who can play multiple positions, and our pitching staff is strong. Day in and day out, our top 10 or 11 guys are as good as anyone."
Leading that staff is Jake Helleloid, the former Mitchell High School standout and Northern State product who was named state tournament MVP. Helleloid posted a perfect 8-0 record over 16 appearances, striking out 129 batters in 79⅓ innings while carrying a microscopic 1.235 ERA. He anchored a pitching staff that posted a team ERA of just 3.31.
At the plate, the Rays were equally impressive, boasting a team on-base percentage of .382. Seven different players drove in at least a dozen runs, led by Dylan Soulek—another former Mitchell standout who played at Northern State—who slugged a team-high six home runs and drove in 25 runs. Seth Muth, Tanner Dyk, and Carter Sommer also earned all-tournament honors last August, and all are back for the 2026 title defense.
Early returns this season show the Rays are picking up right where they left off. With players like Caden Donahue and Ty Neugebauer stepping up, Parkston is proving that last year's championship run was just the beginning of something special.
The water at The Pond might be good, but it's the talent, chemistry, and determination of this Rays squad that has them poised to make some serious noise again this summer.