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Mitchell's Cadwell Park generates all-time record $72,080 in paid admission at 2024 state amateur baseball tourney
Action from the Platte Killer Tomatoes and Dimock-Emery semifinal game on Aug. 17 at Cadwell Park.
(Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

Mitchell's Cadwell Park generates all-time record $72,080 in paid admission at 2024 state amateur baseball tourney

Aug 20, 2024
  

By Ryan Deal 

605 Sports

MITCHELL —- Mitchell and Cadwell Park delivered another record year for the South Dakota Amateur Baseball Association. 

Cadwell Park, a popular spot for the Class B state amateur baseball tournament, generated an all-time record $72,080 in paid admission, according to SDABA secretary/treasurer Herb Sundall. It surpassed the previous record of $69,565 set last year. 

“Overall, it was another great tournament,” Sundall said. “Mitchell always does a fabulous job of running the tournament and we are grateful for all the volunteers that are involved in that.” 

The Class A tournament played its final three days at Cadwell Park and Drake Field after starting in Brookings. In the final session, the Renner Monarchs defeated the Sioux Falls Brewers for the Class A championship and Dell Rapids PBR defeated Platte for the Class B title. 

The final session brought in $7,380. This year’s best financial session was Saturday, Aug. 17 when Platte, Dimock-Emery, Garretson and Dell Rapids PBR played in the semifinal round, raking in $8,365. 

The tournament also benefited from ideal weather conditions and the upgrades at Cadwell Park, which debuted its new press box and shade structure above the main grandstands. 

“Mitchell spent a lot of money on those two things and they greatly enhanced the facilities that they have at Cadwell Park,” Sundall said.


The tournament benefitted from local teams making deep runs, with Platte making its first-ever title appearance and Dimock-Emery advancing to the semifinals. Canova, a tourney regular with a strong fanbase, also qualified for the quarterfinals.  

“As we all know the better the close proximity teams to Mitchell do, the better the attendance,” Sundall said. “We were fortunate to have some local area teams go on deep runs in the tournament, which also means more revenue.”

And fans were treated to an exciting tournament. The 12-day tournament featured walk-off wins, extra-inning decisions and late-game comebacks. 

“We actually had some of the best games that we’ve ever had,” said Sundall, who singled out Dimock-Emery’s ninth-inning rally against Castlewood in the second round. “That’s probably as great of a comeback as there’s ever been. Amazing that they could do that, and there were a couple other comebacks. Platte had at least one. The 27th out was tough to get in a lot of games. It just made for spectacular games at the tournament.” 

Sundall, who is retiring from his position with the SDABA, again praised Mitchell and Cadwell Park for hosting the tournament. 

“Having the tournament in Mitchell is like putting on an old pair of shoes, it’s comfortable for everyone,” Sundall said. 

The 2025 Class B state tournament is Aug. 6-17 in Brandon, before returning to Mitchell in ‘26 and ‘27.

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