Parkston Rays begin amateur baseball title defense looking to build on 2025 breakthrough

After going 6-6 through their first 12 games, the Parkston Rays reeled off a 14-3 record in the second half of the season en route to winning the 2025 Class B amateur baseball state championship in the club's tournament debut. This season, those Rays are determined to show they have staying power at the top of the ...

May 15—PARKSTON, S. D. — Something got into the water at The Pond last summer.

After going 6-6 through their first 12 games, the Parkston Rays reeled off a 14-3 record in the second half of the season en route to winning the 2025 Class B amateur baseball state championship in the club's tournament debut. This season, those Rays are determined to show they have staying power at the top of the Sunshine League and further establish the club as an emerging power within South Dakota amateur baseball. "When they first organized the team (in 2023), they all came in hoping to have really good success, and it didn't quite go their way," said player-manager Doug Sudbeck.

"All those kids knew that they were better than that, and finally, they kind of put it together last year, and we went on a run. "Some of those guys stuck around when things weren't going so good, and they're still here to see some good times," he added. "If we can keep that core together, that's what it takes to have a successful team.