There was more than baseball at the state tournament

There were some baseball games played over the last two weeks at First National Bank Field in Brandon. Thirty-seven, to be exact.

The South Dakota Amateur Baseball state tournament brought in teams from all over to crown a Class A and B champion. But there was more than baseball on display.

From Vanguard Squadron Flyovers to celebrate Veterans in the crowd, to chasing down foul balls for some extra cash, to catching a ride from the Mayor in the parking lot are some of the other “headline-worthy” moments of the tournament.

Vanguard Squadron Flyover 

Before the games on Thursday, Aug. 14, the Brandon Valley Baseball Association hosted a Veterans Night. As part of the ceremonies, the BVBA hired Vanguard Squadron, an Ethanol-fueled aerobatic airshow. 

At Thursday’s event, Gary Middlebrooks, a retired U.S. Air Force F-16 pilot flew one of the Vanguard planes over the First National Bank Field as part of the event. And his timing was perfect. 

As the National Anthem hit the final note, Middlebrooks flew over the field to the delight of the crowd. He then returned, performed some additional maneuvers and extra passes.

“It was very cool,” said BVBA Board member Nick Jensen, who contacted Vanguard about the flyover. “Just seeing the smoke out of the back of the plane with all of the maneuvers. I’m glad we got it done.”

Cash for foul balls 

Chase Callahan will be entering the seventh grade later this month. But before school commences, the 12-year-old banked some serious greenbacks at the state tournament.

When a foul ball is hit outside the field of play, the BVBA asks they be returned to the concession stand. The benefit: $2 per ball.

Callahan showed some thriftiness from the start. His dad, Brian, is on the BVBA Board. Chase was with him every day, assisting where he could.

But on the first day, Chase ran down a foul ball and pocketed the $2. He did it again later in the day. By Day 5, he said, he realized he was onto something.

“He was down there anyway, helping us,” Brian said. “He started getting foul balls and went after it.”

Chase said his goal was to make at least $200 by running down the errant balls. On Sunday, the final day of the tournament, he hit his mark.

He said he’ll use the money to purchase baseball cards and fishing lures.

“It just started happening,” he said. “Things just started adding up.”

A ride from the Mayor 

Leading up to the two-week long tournament, the BVBA put out a request for volunteers to help pull things together.

One of those volunteer positions was giving fans, coaches and players rides from their vehicles to the front gate. A host of golf carts swarmed the parking lots for the two weeks, delivering tournament-goers to and from their cars.

But one of the transport vehicles stood out. Before the tournament started, Brandon Mayor Harry Buck went to his farm in White Lake to retrieve his Mule UTV. He used that vehicle to transport fans every single day of the tournament.

“I actually didn’t sign up to volunteer because I never know exactly about my schedule,” Buck said. “So, whenever I’m available, I just go out there and give rides. I enjoy doing it. I wanted – and all the volunteers did –  to make everyone feel welcome. We always told them we thanked them for coming and they really seem to appreciate it.”

Getting a ride from the Mayor is probably a tad unique. It’s doubtful you’ll see Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken giving rides at a Canaries game.

But Buck said it wasn’t something he highlighted.

“I don’t think too many people knew,” he said when asked if riders recognized him. “There were a few, but not many.”

Buck said he gave about 20 rides per day. He also welcomed the crowd from the field on the opening day of the tournament.