On a team full of 20 and 30-year-olds, Eric Giblin gives the Mount Vernon Mustangs a veteran and — oftentimes — witty presence. 

Giblin, 46, has been a South Dakota amateur baseball regular for two-plus decades and has been a Mount Vernon player since 1998. He was part of Mount Vernon’s state tourney quarterfinal team in 1998 and was a member of last season’s quarterfinal run. 

The state-tourney regular Mustangs are back in this year’s Class B state amateur baseball tournament, and Giblin is again a key contributor. This season, Giblin has played 22 games, is batting .360, has driven in 19 runs and has belted two home runs. 

“I still feel like I can compete,” Giblin said. “If I felt I was hurting the team more than I was helping them, I would definitely hang it up. I love the camaraderie and I love getting out and playing and seeing the guys every week.”

The guys that keep the elder statesman hungry to come back each year.  

“It drives me to continue to work and stay in shape and contribute for these guys,” Giblin said. “I want to go out there and be the best I can to win it for them. That’s what a good team is all about is playing for each other.” 

The reliable first baseman has committed just one error and has pitched in three games this season. He also brings other intangibles and quick-witted jokes to the Mustangs, whose roster is littered with a host of younger players. 

“He does bring a good presence to the dugout,” Mount Vernon outfielder Cameron Deinert said. “But it’s actually comic relief. He’s very funny. He’s got a lot of sly comments and he brings a comic relief to the dugout that we need sometimes.”

So Deinert and the Mustangs know better than to rib Giblin, who is also called “Gibby” by his teammates.

“As witty as he is, we try to stay away from making fun of Gibby because he will let you have it right back,” Deinert joked. 

Eric Giblin's family threw out Mount Vernon's ceremonial first pitches at the Class B state amateur baseball tournament in Mitchell. (Ryan Deal / 605 Sports)

All jokes aside, Mount Vernon showed its appreciation for Giblin and his family during the first round of the Class B state amateur baseball tournament on Aug. 3. 

The Mustangs surprised Giblin by having his three son’s Jack, Brooks and Trae throw out the team’s ceremonial first pitch before their first first-round game. Giblin caught all three pitches from his sons, with his wife Rachel occupying them on the mound. 

The moment, which was orchestrated by Mount Vernon manager/player Deric Denning, caught Giblin off guard. 

“I saw my kids come out on the field and it got me a little emotional because I didn’t expect it,” Giblin said. “It was a pretty special moment. My kids and my wife love Mustang baseball. They love coming out and watching me play and I wouldn’t be able to play this long if I didn’t have family support like that.”

How much longer does Giblin plan on playing amateur baseball? It’s not something he thinks much about, and is always looking forward to the next amateur baseball season.  

“That last loss of the year is always the toughest,” Giblin said. “But it hasn’t seriously come up yet. I still have the drive. The day when we have a game scheduled and I don’t feel like going, then I know it’s over. But that day hasn’t come yet.”