MITCHELL — Over the last few decades many things have changed in South Dakota amateur baseball, but one thing that remains constant is Dimock/Emery Raptors’ Doug Sudbeck.

Sudbeck is in his 35th season playing amateur baseball and says “I’m still having fun.”

“That’s why I keep playing, I like to have fun,” said Sudbeck. “I just love the sport. I love playing baseball. I’m old and can’t move anymore, but I still love to do it.”

Sudbeck, 53, started playing for the amateur team in Dimock as a Legion player and until the early 1990s when they combined with Emery to form what is known today as the Dimock/Emery Raptors.

“First couple years we were just Dimock and then I think in ‘91 or ‘92 we switched to Dimock/Emery,” said Sudbeck.

Since the inception of the Raptors it has consisted of many players from both towns but as the years went on, the number of players from Dimock has diminished to just one.

“He’s actually the only reason we’re still called Dimock/Emery, we should just be called Emery,” said Raptors’ teammate Jason Schmidt.

Despite being the lone member from Dimock, his teammates, as well as Raptors manager Brad Bartscher, think highly of the veteran Sudbeck.

“I’m in my 24th year, and that is one guy I’ve grown up watching, playing with, and now managing,” said Bartscher. “I’ve got the utmost respect for that guy.”

Sudbeck has come up big in hundreds of clutch situations over the years, but none bigger than the Raptors second-round comeback victory over the Castlewood Ravens. A pinch-hitting Sudbeck drew a walk in the bottom of the ninth with two outs down by four runs to spark the comeback.

“I’m not going to say Doug’s age and how many state tournaments he’s probably been a part of, but we were taking a strike and even after he had a strike, he was willing to go two strikes cause he trusts himself,” said Raptors’ teammate Phil Johnson. “The guy has done it time and time again, and we call him ‘Dougie Barrels’ for a reason.”

Sudbeck also drove in a run on a hit and a hit-by-pitch, scoring twice himself in the Raptors’ 10-7 quarterfinal victory over Larchwood on Thursday. 

Sudbeck recently got the nickname “Dougie Barrels” for a similar pinch-hit situation in the state tournament a few years ago, and it has since become a staple of Sudbeck’s role with the Raptors. The nickname eventually transformed into popular T-shirts worn by Raptors, team fans, family and friends.

Sudbeck's wife Karen and son Leyton sport "Dougie Barrels" T-shirts following Dimock/Emery's quarterfinal victory. (Courtesy Photo)

“That came around when I pinch hit and got a double or something down the line and scored a couple runs,” said Sudbeck. “Three or four years ago I think it was when I got the name.”

As he continues to play an important role in the Raptors lineup, Sudbeck says the key to his efficiency has been his availability.

“Last year, I got hurt a little bit with my knee, this year I’m not too bad,” said Sudbeck. “I haven’t been injured yet. It gets tougher every year, playing against the young kids, but it’s fun.”

Whether it’s playing for the Dimock/Emery Raptors or coaching his kids’ baseball and softball teams, Sudbeck’s summers have been consumed with the sport, but he loves every second of it.

“I just love to coach and play,” said Sudbeck. “Every night of the week I’m out on the ball diamond. That’s just how it’s been for years and my wife’s put up with it for a lot of years.”

Whenever Sudbeck decides to hang up the cleats, the Raptors’ will surely miss him, and his veteran leadership.

“I don’t ever want to see him hang it up,” Bartscher said. “It’d be weird not having him around. He keeps our team together. He’s our old veteran that gets the job done. His play, his hitting, doesn’t matter what it is. He brings it.”