MITCHELL — Herb Sundall’s association with South Dakota amateur baseball began as a 12-year-old right fielder. 

The Kennebec amateur baseball team had only eight players, and Sundall was thrust into action against Vivian. Sundall faced David Meyers, who Sundall said was “the best pitcher in the league.”

“He threw hard, but he saw this little runt coming up to the plate,” Sundall said. “So he just lobbed the ball in. I hit it into the gap for a double. I never even saw the ball the rest of the day. I heard it go by a few times.”

Sundall’s memorable double was the beginning of Sundall’s lifelong association with South Dakota amateur baseball. In addition to playing, Sundall was a manager for the Kennebec-Chamberlain Cannons, American Legion baseball coach and later the secretary-treasurer of the South Dakota Amateur Baseball Association.

Sundall’s run as the secretary-treasurer, which he began in 2002, is coming to an end and he’ll soon retire from his duties.

“It’s been a part of my life and a good part of it — in different ways,” Sundall, 76, said. “I am grateful for the opportunities that amateur baseball provided me. I wouldn't trade it for something else.”

As secretary-treasurer, Sundall oversees the management and reporting of the SDABA’s finances and keeps minutes of the meetings. 

Sundall, a former attorney, takes a huge amount of pride and responsibility with his SDABA’s duties. 

“I have always felt that if you had a job to do, you need to do it well — to the best of your ability, and I tried to do that,” Sundall said.

Sundall added “I am more busy than I’d like to be,” and “it’s not a bad deal to have some new blood every once in a while.”

Sundall will forever remember the friendships with players, managers, commissioners and umpires forged through baseball. 

“You make some friendships that last hopefully the rest of your life, and by in large most of the people you are dealing with are honest and a joy to work for,” Sundall said. 

However, Sundall’s lifelong association with baseball isn’t over yet. Sundall and his wife, Deanna, live in Sioux Falls now to be closer to their grandchildren. The Sundalls watched 112 of their grandchildren’s baseball games this summer, as Herb’s association with baseball continues. 

“I would just like to thank all the people that I have been involved with for their cooperation and friendship over the years,” Sundall said. “I will miss it. Although I don’t plan on being a stranger. I will be around and I still think it’s the greatest game in the world.”