MITCHELL — Bradley and Bennett Dean played a game of catch for their father on Thursday. 

Greg Dean, a Pierre resident and avid baseball supporter, passed away in January and Mount Vernon honored him prior to its Class B state amateur baseball opener at Cadwell Park. Bennett threw out Mount Vernon’s ceremonial first pitch to Bradley, a Mustang pitcher and outfielder. 

“It was really fun to have him come down and be able to throw it out,” Bradley said. “It just meant a lot. I choked up a little bit, but it was a really, really special moment.”

The moment was heightened because Bradley and Bennett, separated by four years of age, never played competitive baseball with each other. 

“We never got that opportunity,” Bennett said. “So anytime you can play catch with your brother or dad in baseball, it’s a special moment.”

Brothers Bradley Dean, left, and Bennett Dean, right, share a moment after the ceremonial first pitch on Thursday at Cadwell Park. (Ryan Deal / 605 Sports)
 

The brothers shared a lifetime of baseball moments with Greg, a former amateur player for his hometown Wessington Springs Owls and Pierre A’s in the 1990s. Greg’s passion for baseball trickled down to his sons, which also included Blake. The sons all played high school and Legion ball for Pierre, while Bradley (Dakota Wesleyan University) and Blake (University of Sioux Falls) played collegiately. 

“He was the reason why I started to play this game and he meant everything,” Bradley said. “He got me started and now it’s just going out and playing every game for him.”

In addition to an active community member, Greg was a familiar face around the Pierre baseball scene. He was a member of the Capital City Baseball Association Board, coached numerous youth sports teams and provided color commentary for KCCR.

“He was the biggest influence I ever had in the game of baseball,” Bennett said. “He taught me everything I knew about the game. He was really the one that started my passion for the game and both my brothers as well. He was definitely my hero when it came to baseball.”

Mount Vernon's Chase Hetland wears a wristband with Greg Dean's initials on it. (Ryan Deal / 605 Sports)

Bradley and Bennett both praised the Pierre and Mount Vernon communities for rallying around them after their father’s death. 

“The Pierre community was really great,” said Bennett, a sophomore at Greg’s alma mater South Dakota State University. “They were super supportive. They just did a lot for my family over the last six months.”

Bradley, who struck out three batters and logged a hit in Mount Vernon’s 10-0 win on Thursday, echoed his younger brother’s sentiments. 

“It’s been awesome,” Bradley said. “Just being able to see the support that not only Pierre, but also what the Mustangs have shown to me and the rest of my family has been really, really special. We are blessed to be a part of these two communities.” 

This season, Mount Vernon did its part in honoring Greg, who regularly wore wristbands when he played baseball. So Mount Vernon is wearing wristbands with Greg’s initials on them to support the baseball lifer, family man and friendly face. 

“He was just infectious in the way that he thought about the game of baseball and approached life,” Mount Vernon player/manager Deric Denning said. “So it’s easy to rally around him.”