Brandon – Almost three years ago, Chris Brown held his acceptance speech as part of his introduction to the South Dakota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame when he decided that it was the perfect opportunity to plant a seed.
A year earlier, the Brandon Valley Baseball Association organized the baseball tournament 2021 in South Dakota American Legion with great success, and the focus under the BVBA leaders after the episode had changed to the opportunity to take on something even bigger -the South Dakota Amateur Baseball Association Class A and B State Tournaments.
Brown decided to make a swing with many of the SDABA commissioners and league presidents who were present that evening.
“We just brought it to the table that night,” said Brown, who acts as a sponsorship representative of the BVBA. “Our president and I talked about it, and he found it a wonderful idea. There we started rolling the ball and getting the idea into the head of the Commission that Brandon was interested in this new facility at First National Bank Field to possibly organize the tournament one day.
“I don't think the Commission was looking for an alternative, but we introduced our idea to them. And they were interested.”
Photo with the kind permission of Sdaba
This year's state amateur championships begin on Wednesday, August 6th and will run until Sunday, August 17th. Games are played at the First National Bank Field in Aspen Park in Brandon, while on Friday, August 15th, two class B tournament games are played in class B.
“We have had Brandon in our docket in recent years,” said Sdaba President Dale Weber. “They were very interested in organizing it this year, and we only awarded them the state tournament for their enthusiasm.
“It played a big role and I think it will go very well.”
It will be the first time since 2018 that the state's amateur tournament was organized somewhere else than in its typical host site in Cadwell Park in Mitchell. This year Augustana served hosts as a tournament. The last time that the State Tournament was held outside of Mitchell or Sioux Falls was in 1979 when Freeman held the games.
However, the break will be short – the tournaments should return to Mitchell next year.
“Mitchell did a wonderful job with this tournament, but we just thought we were a nice alternative in the most populous district of the state to bring this small town feeling to the amateur tournament in the district of Minneha,” said Brown. “We would like to work with Mitchell and work with the amateur board down the street and hopefully carry out a rotation, in which Mitchell may be twice and we organize (there used to be a similar rotation between Mitchell and the bird cage in Sioux Falls).
“We will only try to build on what Mitchell did and what Mitchell has built and which atmosphere you bring to the amateur tournament.”
They were very interested in organizing it this year, and we only awarded them the state tournament for their enthusiasm. That played a big role and I think it will go very well.
Sdaba President Dale Weber
When it was time to interpret their proposal, BVBA leader of SDABA officers were asked adequately to numerous questions.
The size of the 12-day tournament was far above the scope of the BVBA organized in the past. The achievement of a successful legion tournament in 2021 seemed to give the BVBA the considerable dynamics during the discussions.
There is also the assumption that Mitchell deserved a well -deserved break as a host site.
“We are very lucky that our members and our union will accept this thing and try because I think we'll do a great job with it,” said Brown. “I really think that the people who come to the city will really enjoy what we will do with the tournament, but it's a big undertaking to say.”
Photo with the kind permission of the Brandon Valley Baseball Association
Five days of the championships will contain at least four games. The first weekend of class A tournament will take place on August 8th to 10th in Fossum Field in Aberdeen. Six of the eight class -a teams that qualify will complete things the following weekend in Brandon and Valley Springs.
Brown's son Matt is playing for the Tabor Bluebirds this season, who switched off Lesterville 11: 8 on Tuesday evening to request the title of District 6b.
While he was playing his son this summer, Brown began to annoy the fan experience in the entire South Central League. He noticed how the seats behind the insidth are generally free and how often the fans prefer their trucks along the outer field fences to watch them from their truck beds.
The BVBA had researched the idea of adding permanent seats in the first National Bank field in the field of First National Bank. However, the construction costs could not justify the number of seats that could be added, and the removal of several parking spaces was also a problem.
Therefore, the BVBA leaders started alternative options, and in view of what Brown had seen in the South Central League, a unique VIP option was created.
A total of 21 VIP spots will be available in the First National Bank field this year. The $ 155 bundle (per session) has six play tickets, a bucket of beer, soda or a combination of both and a personal parking lot along the outer field fence.
A private bar offers 14 VIP spots in the right field, while seven places in the left field have access to a beer and soda stand just around the corner. The runners will also accept orders and deliver drinks directly on vehicles in all 21 VIP rooms.
“Hopefully everyone in these outfield spots will get a good view of the game and our facility and have a damn time while they are out there,” said Brown.
During the 12 campaign days there will undoubtedly be some challenges that are imagined, but Brown is confident in the informative notes that BVBA recorded when they organized the Legion tournament in 2021, many association leaders enabled association leaders to implement new tools to cope with these challenges.
One of these hurdles is the parking situation in Aspen Park. However, since only one field is used during the amateur tournaments of the state in the park, a litany of alternative parking spaces is made available, so that referees, commissioners, players and volunteers have their own designated areas to park.
In addition, volunteers will be on site in order to transport those who need support in the route from their parking lot in the baseball stadium, and vice versa.
Of course, there is always the risk of bad weather that could have its own problems, but Brown says that the artificial infield lawn on the First National Bank Field can usually resume 10 to 15 minutes after the rain has stopped.
“I think this is an advantage that we have with the lawn system on the First National Bank,” said Brown. “Many of the challenges we came across in 2021 with the Legion tournament, I think we learned a lot from some of these things.”
Brown also emphasizes cheap beer and food as a key sales argument. 16 -unzen beers are sold for $ 4, and beer shells can be bought for $ 20. If one of the two teams in the third inning brings a double, two Busch lights for 6 US dollars will be available and two COORS lights will also cost 6 US lights at 6 US dollars.
Mitchell Republic
Brown is a former standout by South Dakota and 2022 Amateur Hall of Fame, Brown over the years its appropriate share of amateur baseball tournaments of the state. His amateur baseball career comprised two separate stints with Brookings (1997-2002 and 2006-09), in which the CUBs conquered six class a championships. He also helped a state title in 2003 to lead his hometown team in Minnesota, The Green Isle Irish.
“We only try to bring some of the best ideas together that we saw from Mitchell, and some of the best ideas we saw in Minnesota and to implement what we will do in Brandon to bring this tournament to life,” said Brown. “We would also like to thank the Commission for the chance.
“We are humbly very excited to organize this tournament and to bring it to life here in Minnehaha County.”
Weber, who has acted as the senior manager of the SDABA since 1988, understands the immense work that is available for BVBA, but the enthusiasm of the hosts for the company has strengthened his confidence in their ability to successfully complete this.
Mitchell Republic
The long -time president is confident that participation will take place this year.
“I think the people who come to watch this amateur baseball will be quite a pleasure,” said Weber. “You call it amateur baseball, but believe me, some of these boys are damn good ball players. I don't care whether you are 45, 50 years old. You can still play the game and you will show a show for anyone who shows and plays.”
It is undoubtedly an exciting time of the year for the leaders of the BVBA, who had ambitious goals for the organization of high-end tournaments when the First National Bank Field was first opened to the public in 2018.
Now is a tournament that is close to Brown's heart, here and his excitement is noticeable.
“There is very proud for me because I love amateur baseball,” said Brown. “I love the atmosphere around her. My son played in Wynot, Nebraska last night, in the districts, and it was just a fun evening in baseball. It was a small town. It was a good cheeseburger. There was a 50/50 drawing and it was a good, competitive game between Lesterville and Tabor.
“For me, I am just looking forward to the fact that all of this comes to our community and the Brandon community also into what the amateur baseball is all about.