South Dakota

Two fastpitch, two slowpitch players to join promotor/sponsor in state’s softball hall

Published

9 months ago

April 4, 2025

Two fastpitch, two slowpitch players to join promotor/sponsor in state’s softball hall

RAPID CITY — Two fastpitch players, two slowpitch players and a promotor/sponsor make up the 2025 class for the USA Softball of South Dakota Hall of Fame.

The new inductees include Ken Many Woods Billingsly of Pine Ridge (men’s fastpitch), Kelly’s Sports Lounge/Jeremy Ofstead of Rapid City (promotor/sponsor), Sheri Lappe of Pierre (women’s slowpitch), Silas “Mo” Skates of Rapid City (men’s slowpitch) and Dennis Brewer of Pine Ridge (men’s fastpitch).

The inductees will be honored during a banquet scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 27 at the Rapid City Ramkota Inn. A social hour start at 6 p.m. Central, followed the meal at 7 p.m. and the induction ceremony.

The cost of the event is $50 per plate. For advance tickets, contact Mike Dykstra at 605-212-3139 or email: kdyskstra@sio.mido.net.

Here’s more on the inductees:

Ken Many Wounds Billingsly, Pine Ridge

Billingsly is a legendary figure in fastpitch softball, whose remarkable career spans across states, regions and even the world stage.

Billingsly’s accomplishments include being named All-American 3rd baseman at the 2003 ASA/USA Nationals and playing in 15 ISC World Tournaments. Notably, his Pine Ridge Sioux team claimed the championship at the 1987 “A” Tournament. He also made an extraordinary impact in national Indian tournaments, where he played on teams that claimed four national titles. His individual excellence earned him an MVP award and a spot on the tourney all-star team an impressive 12 times.

Ken’s versatility and unwavering dedication to the sport led him to celebrated teams such as the Pine Ridge Sioux, the Storm from Texas, Frontier Bar from Bismarck (N.D.) and Nariko from St. Paul (Minn.). His international contributions include representing Nariko in ISC tournaments and spending 13 years with the North Americans.

Gary Young of Watertown, who nominated Billingsly for this honor, said: “I saw Ken hit line drive home runs and play defense as well as anyone at the tournaments. But what I remember the most was that he was a competitor who had respect for the game and those who played it.”

“I have played ball both with and against Ken … my favorite of the two would be teammate,” Fellow Hall of Famer JC Crawford of Sisseton said. “Ken was not only one of the best players in South Dakota, but also within the upper Midwest.”

Kelly’s Sports Lounge/Jeremy Ofstead, Rapid City

Ofstead, owner of Kelly’s Sports Lounge in Rapid City, is a lifelong supporter of softball. This recognition celebrates Jeremy’s ongoing efforts to preserve and expand the remarkable legacy of the Lounge’s late founder (Kelly Cotton) and its lasting impact on the softball community.

For more 30 years, Kelly’s has been a cornerstone of the softball scene, providing athletes and fans with sponsorships, encouragement and a welcoming hub that fosters camaraderie. Under Ofstead’s leadership, Kelly’s has sponsored numerous teams that have competed in Regional Events as well as Women’s Senior Nationals.

Their dedication goes far beyond team sponsorships, playing an integral role in supporting the game through partnerships such as sponsoring state scorebooks, hosting umpire suppers before tournaments, providing gift cards for benefit events and sponsoring two fields at the Star of the West Complex — with plans for additional sponsorships in the future.

“As the vice president of the league for 20 years, I was able to see first hand the dedication of Kelly and Jeremy to the teams and tournaments of the Rapid City Softball Association,” Jenna McNabb said. “They have made a substantial investment in the teams and the league and a commitment to USA Softball.”

Sheri Lappe, Pierre

Lappe is being honored for her extraordinary contributions to the sport as a player, umpire, coach and leader.

Her softball journey began at just 13 years old, playing alongside her grandmother and aunt at Rob’s Flat cow pasture. She went on to compete at the highest levels, playing for over 30 years in fastpitch, slowpitch and co-ed leagues. She has won state championships with five different teams, including Oahe Vet and Chuck Wagon in Class B, Shenanigans in Class C, the Longbranch in Class D and the Legion in D5. Her Chuck Wagon team went on to win the Northern Regional Championship in Bismarck, adding to a long list of league titles while showcasing her versatility as a center fielder and catcher.

Beyond her playing career, Lappe served 13 years as an umpire, officiating men’s and women’s leagues as well as state tournaments. She also thrived as a player-manager, guiding Chuck Wagon to a state and regional championship.

Her dedication extended beyond the diamond, where she has been a women’s league officer for more than two decades, championing the growth and success of the sport in Pierre.

Lappe has also served as the Pierre Women’s Commissioner since 1993. Her leadership has been pivotal in organizing state tournaments, ensuring teams and players receive the resources needed to compete at the highest levels. Her legacy was further cemented in 2024 when she was inducted into the Oahe Softball Wall of Fame.

“Sheri is the heart and soul of our softball community,” Nominator Stacie Morrell said. “She’s always the first person at the fields and usually the last to leave. Her dedication over the past 32 years has been unmatched.”

Silas “Mo” Skates, Rapid City

Skates is being recognized for his incredible softball career. As a versatile player who excelled in left field, catcher and EH roles, he contributed to the success of three different Kelly’s teams as well as Sonny’s, Thomas Electric, Saloon 10 and Team Primed.

Skates’ career is defined by consistent excellence, winning league titles every single year he played — primarily in upper-division softball. Among his notable achievements are a state championship with Kelly’s in the 1998 State Open and two out-of-state titles: one in Wyoming and another in Montana with Sonny’s.

In addition to his league and state victories, Skates competed in two C Nationals tournaments (held in Rapid City and Las Vegas, Nev.) and three 35 & Over Nationals, achieving two second-place finishes and one third-place finish (all in Mandan, N.D.).

Beyond softball, Skates proudly served in the United States Air Force from 1987 to 1996, demonstrating his dedication and leadership in service to his country. Off the field, he has shared his passion for the game by coaching girls fastpitch softball, youth baseball and even trying his hand at coaching a women’s slowpitch team in recent years.

“Mo was absolutely one of the best players in the state. On top of his exceptional skills — hitting, fielding and running — he was also a team leader, both on and off the field,” Nominator Keith Morell said. “He could hold his own at the highest levels of the game and his passion for discussing and strategizing the game was unmatched.”

Dennis Brewer, Pine Ridge

Pine Ridge celebrates the remarkable achievements of Brewer, a true legend in the world of fastpitch softball. As both a player and coach, his contributions to the Pine Ridge Sioux team and his community have left a lasting legacy.

Brewer began his illustrious career in 1969 as a pitcher, infielder and outfielder, later transitioning to the catching position in 1983. He spent decades excelling in the game, playing alongside Hall of Famers Richard “Tuffy” Lunderman and North Dakota Hall of Famer Ollie Fiedler. Brewer dedicated 20 years (1972–1992) to the Pine Ridge Sioux team, guiding them to historic victories.

Under Brewer’s’ ‘s leadership, the Pine Ridge teams dominated the Pine Ridge League from 1980 to 1989 and also claimed the Sioux Trail Baseball League title from 1972 to 1983. A significant milestone came in 1987 when Brewer and his team triumphed at the ASA State “A” Championship in Watertown, securing a third-place finish at the A Regionals in St. Paul (Minn.) that same year.

Brewer’s career is marked by outstanding individual accolades, including six MVP awards and over 50 all-tournament awards from Pine Ridge, Rosebud and Yankton Sioux competitions. His teams won a remarkable 150 tournaments over 20 years and he hit more than 300 home runs, including an awe-inspiring performance of five homers in one day. As a pitcher, he achieved a one-hit game and recorded 242 victories. The Pine Ridge Sioux achieved an 84–4 record in 1985— losing only at the state and national tournament in Reno, Neb.

“Dennis was the rock who solidified the Pine Ridge Sioux. He inspired through his leadership, dedication and warrior heart,” Fellow inductee Billingsly said. “His extraordinary career and contributions to his community truly make him a Hall of Fame inductee worthy of the highest praise.”

Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com

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South Dakota

SD Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life winning numbers for Dec. 22, 2025

Published

9 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Press Room

The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 22, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Dec. 22 drawing

03-18-36-41-54, Powerball: 07, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 22 drawing

09-16-23-34-46, Lucky Ball: 07

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from Dec. 22 drawing

01-09-18-19-44, Star Ball: 02, ASB: 05

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

Prizes of $100 or less: Can be claimed at any South Dakota Lottery retailer.
Prizes of $101 or more: Must be claimed from the Lottery. By mail, send a claim form and a signed winning ticket to the Lottery at 711 E. Wells Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501.
Any jackpot-winning ticket for Dakota Cash or Lotto America, top prize-winning ticket for Lucky for Life, or for the second prizes for Powerball and Mega Millions must be presented in person at a Lottery office. A jackpot-winning Powerball or Mega Millions ticket must be presented in person at the Lottery office in Pierre.

When are the South Dakota Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Dakota Cash: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Dakota editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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South Dakota

ICE in SD — from small towns to Operation: Prairie Thunder

Published

21 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

ICE in SD — from small towns to Operation: Prairie Thunder

Molly Wetsch

Reporter / Report for America corps member
605-531-7382
molly.wetsch@sdnewswatch.org

Five months after Operation: Prairie Thunder officially began, the South Dakota Highway Patrol’s collaborative anti-crime and immigration enforcement effort will continue into the new year, the governor’s office has confirmed.

The program was originally announced by Gov. Larry Rhoden to take place from July 28 through December.

One portion of Operation: Prairie Thunder involves the state’s entrance into multiple 287(g) agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that allow ICE to delegate some authority to state and local law enforcement agencies.

That happened as immigration enforcement operations ramped up after the inauguration of President Donald Trump, who nominated former South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem as the Department of Homeland Security secretary.

Under Trump and Noem, more than 500,000 people have been deported from the country, according to Homeland Security, which has not released state-by-state deportation numbers.

ICE arrest data indicates focus on Hispanic, male individuals

In South Dakota, ICE and Homeland Security have been visible, especially in small towns in the eastern part of the state.

In July, ICE confirmed an active investigation at the Trail King Industries Inc. manufacturing plant in Mitchell, though no further information has been released about whether that investigation resulted in arrests, detainments or deportations.

In May, Manitou Equipment and Global Polymer Industries in Madison saw eight people arrested on immigration charges.

And in October, Drumgoon Dairy near Lake Norden confirmed that the company had been subjected to an immigration audit by Homeland Security, which is not the same as an immigration raid. But it resulted in the forced termination of 38 employees with citizenship information that was outdated, inaccurate or incomplete.

While nationwide ICE arrests and deportations have targeted a wide variety of individuals from multiple countries – including in neighboring Minnesota, where Somalian people have been the most recent target of ICE operations – South Dakota arrests have involved nearly all Hispanic people.

Most recent ICE arrestees in South Dakota are citizens of Mexico and Central America, with the majority coming from Mexico and Honduras, and 98% are male, according to government data obtained via a FOIA request from the Deportation Data Project and analyzed by South Dakota News Watch.

The project currently retains accurate state-based data from July 1 to Oct. 15. The data cannot accurately reflect any arrests prior to July 1 but can help to understand general arrest trends in South Dakota.

Hispanic people across the state have reported feeling less safe, said Ivan Romero, vice president of the South Dakota Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The Latino Festival and Parade, which is hosted in Sioux Falls by the South Dakota Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, was canceled this year due to safety concerns, Romero told News Watch in October.

“That was unfortunate, but people just don’t feel comfortable coming to Sioux Falls at this point,” he said.

The vast majority of detainer requests from July 1 to Oct. 15 went to the Minnehaha County Jail in Sioux Falls, followed by the Pennington County Jail in Rapid City and the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls.

The Deportation Data Project defines detainer requests as “all requests to state, county, and municipal jails and prisons either for a person to be held on a detainer or for a notification of release date and time. A detainer is a request to a local jail to hold someone for 48 hours beyond when they otherwise would be released so that ICE can make an arrest in the jail while the individual remains detained.”

ICE said that detainer requests are most often lodged against an individual in an agency’s custody that poses a “public safety threat.” Other Homeland Security agencies can issue detainers, but most come from ICE, according to the agency’s website.

Operation: Prairie Thunder focuses on drug operations

To date, ICE has signed more than 1,200 287(g) agreements with agencies in 40 states, including five with various South Dakota agencies enabling parts of Operation: Prairie Thunder.

Those agreements take three different forms:

Task Force Agreement: The “force multiplier” program that allows law enforcement officers to adopt limited immigration enforcement duties, with ICE oversight. The South Dakota Highway Patrol signed this agreement on May 22 and the South Dakota Department of Criminal Investigations signed it on June 11.
Warrant Service Officer: Allows law enforcement officers to execute warrants on behalf of ICE on individuals in their agency’s jail. The South Dakota Department of Corrections signed this agreement on Aug. 28, the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office signed it on March 17 and the Hughes County Sheriff’s Office in Pierre signed it on March 7.
Jail Enforcement Model: Allows law enforcement officers to identify and process individuals who may be in violation of immigration laws while they are serving time in their agency’s jail. The DOC signed this agreement on July 25.

While Operation: Prairie Thunder’s immigration enforcement prong has been well-publicized in the state, the majority of the program’s activity comes from enhanced traffic monitoring and drug enforcement, according to data released from the governor’s office.

According to a press release from Operation: Prairie Thunder, 260 of 406 – 64% – of individuals currently in custody as a result of Operation: Prairie Thunder have a drug charge and 156 have been cited with a drug charge and released. More than 2,000 traffic citations have been issued.

The “ICE Contacts” section of Operation: Prairie Thunder’s most recent dataset said that 89 people had been contacted in ICE-related situations since the program was announced. A representative from the Department of Public Safety told News Watch in a statement: “The intent of (Operation: Prairie Thunder) is to reduce crime in our communities.

“It is important to note that any ICE contacts are incidental contacts – we aren’t seeking out illegal aliens during the saturation patrols. However, the 287(g) agreement allows us to coordinate swiftly with ICE if a stop uncovers undocumented individuals. Those undocumented, non-citizens, are the people counted as ‘Individuals Contacted.’ Not all of those found to be undocumented are taken into custody, per ICE guidance, therefore the ‘Contacts’ and ‘Arrests’ sections differ.”

The program, which initially concentrated most of its efforts in Sioux Falls and the surrounding area, has started other efforts across the state.

Operation: Prairie Thunder most recently carried out operations in Belle Fourche, Huron and Yankton, where 75 individuals were taken into custody, 42 with a drug charge. Twenty-seven people were identified as ICE contacts.

The city of Brookings issued a statement on Dec. 12 that the operation would be coming to town Dec. 17-19 and that the city “would not be participating.”

Josie Harms, Rhoden’s press secretary, said the ongoing arrest and citation statistics indicate successful crime-fighting efforts.

“Our results remain impressive, and it is clear that this operation is keeping South Dakota strong, safe, and free — so we are going to keep it up,” Harms said in a statement.

This story was produced by South Dakota News Watch, an independent, nonprofit organization. Read more stories and donate at sdnewswatch.org and sign up for an email for statewide stories. Investigative reporter Molly Wetsch is a Report for America corps member covering rural and Indigenous issues. Contact her at molly.wetsch@sdnewswatch.org.

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South Dakota

No. 2 Texas shakes up South Dakota State, 70-51

Published

1 day ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

No. 2 Texas shakes up South Dakota State, 70-51

Guard Jordan Lee knocked down three triples to pace Texas with 17 points in addition to four of the team’s 13 steals, while junior forward Madison Booker notched 14 points and nine rebounds and guard Rori Harmon added 11 points and seven assists.

Texas shot 45.5 percent from the field while holding South Dakota State to 36.6 percent, outscoring the Jackrabbits in the paint by 20 points, 44-22, and from the bench, 20-13.

The Longhorns jumped out to a quick start with a 12-0 lead as Lee hit an early three and the Texas defense held South Dakota State scoreless for the majority of the opening quarter until the Jackrabbits utilized a 10-3 run and closed out the first period trailing, 17-13. Texas outscored the Jackrabbits by five in the second quarter, hitting 47.1 percent from the field to keep a 33-24 lead at halftime.

In the third quarter, South Dakota State cut the Texas lead to eight, but Harmon foundBooker for an elbow jumper to keep the Longhorns ahead by 10 points. Center Kyla Oldacre held the paint down with four points and a rebound to extend the Texas lead to 49-34.

In the final period, Texas guard Bryanna Preston made tremendous effort with a strong move to the basket with a three-point play in her return from injury after missing five weeks to push the lead to 21 points. Later, Preston stole the ball and found Lee in the corner for her third three of the game to extend the Texas lead to 66-43. The Longhorns ended up shooting 9-of-13 (69.2 percent) from the field in the final quarter.

Next up, Texas hosts Southeastern Louisiana on Sunday at 1 p.m. Central on SEC Network.

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