Cadwell Park remains key, as 2019 Class A State Legion is awarded

A popular destination for the state amateur baseball tournament, Mitchell's Cadwell Park will also host the Class A Legion tournament in 2019.

The venue will host the five-day, double-elimination tournament for the first time since 2010.

Mitchell Legion coach Luke Norden said the Mitchell Baseball Association puts in a bid every year to host the tournament and it paid off this time.

"The rotation came in where I think it was our turn," Norden said. "We haven't had it since 2010. So it kind of came down to us and Yankton."

Norden said Sioux Falls, Rapid City and Pierre also submitted bids. However, those sites have recently hosted or will host this year. Pierre is the hosting the eight-team tournament on Aug. 1-5, while Rapid City hosted in 2017 and Sioux Falls in 2016.

Norden said there's a couple of reasons why Mitchell is an ideal spot to host the tournament, with one being Cadwell Park. The venue will also host the 2019 Class B South Dakota Amateur Baseball Tournament.

"The field and the amenities that our field has for fans and for the officials that are coming to the ballpark and umpires, just everything that our field provides I think is a really good thing for everybody," Norden said.

Then there's the location, added Norden.

"The central location is really good for your casual fans to take in games and you see that at the state amateur tournament all the time that you don't see over in Sioux Falls, maybe just with the people that come out to the games that maybe wouldn't drive a little bit further," Norden said.

Mitchell Post 18 will also receive an automatic bid to the tournament, which will be the final home games for Mitchell's then-senior class. Norden said that senior class will maybe the largest senior class during his coaching tenure and they've been playing Legion ball since they were freshmen.

"We didn't have a junior Legion that year because of numbers and we had to bring all those kids up," Norden said. "... To kind of finish with a home state tournament, it's kind of nice to see that."