MITCHELL - The final figures were slightly down, but Cadwell Park was once again good to the South Dakota Amateur Baseball Association.

A popular spot for the 12-day and 32-team Class B state amateur baseball tournament, Cadwell Park generated $51,629 in paid admission, according to South Dakota Amateur Baseball Association Secretary/Treasurer Herb Sundall.

“We think we have a pretty good product and we are glad that people enjoy it and they show up and they watch the games,” Sundall said. 

The final figure was down from the 2021 tourney ($56,334), but the association was still pleased with the 2022 turnout.

“We are happy with that,” Sundall said. “There’s going to be ups and downs and weather always has a little bit to do with that. The closeness of teams playing has to do with that. So it’s hard to predict, but overall from a financial standpoint, we will be happy.”

The Class A tournament played its final three days at Cadwell Park and Drake Field after starting in Aberdeen. In the final session, the Sioux Falls Flying Squirrels defeated Brookings Cubs for the Class A championship and Dell Rapids Mudcats defeated Garretson for the Class B title.

The final session brought in $3,477, slightly up from last year’s final session ($3,365). This year’s best financial session was Thursday, Aug. 11 when Garretson, Mount Vernon, Lennox and Alexandria played in the quarterfinal round, raking in $5,535.

Alexandria Angels fans celebrate a run at Cadwell Park during the Class B state amateur baseball tournament. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

The SDABA benefited from local teams — Mount Vernon, Dimock-Emery, Alexandria and Kimball/White Lake — reaching the Class B quarterfinals. The fans were also treated to highly-contested teams, including 10 one-run games during the 37-game Class B tournament.  

“I thought the tournament had some of the best contested games that we’ve had in years,” Sundall said. “There were a lot of one-run games. There were a lot of games decided on the last play. If you really love baseball you can't help but love a closely-contested game.”

The SDABA again charged a pay-per-view fee to watch this year's tournament online and that figure isn’t factored into the $51,629 amount. The Mitchell Baseball Association receives part of the concession stands and the money generated from the programs.

The Exchange Club of Mitchell runs the state amateur baseball concession stands and it uses the event as a fundraiser. The tournament’s backbone was again the volunteers at Cadwell Park. 

“Kudos to Mitchell baseball and the city of Mitchell because they recognize they have a good thing there,” Sundall said. “They just do an outstanding job hosting the tournament.” 

The 2023 Class B state tournament will be in Mitchell on Aug. 2-13. The 2024 site will be determined at the annual SDABA meeting in February 2023.