Post 18 American Legion Baseball Returns to Mitchell with Thrilling Home Opener

MITCHELL — After a hiatus of nearly three years, American Legion baseball has made its long-awaited return to Mitchell, thanks to the efforts of the Palace City Baseball Association (PCBA). The inaugural home game for Post 18 took place on Tuesday night, marking the first time the team had played on their home turf since June 20, 2020. In a competitive matchup under the lights at Cadwell Park, Post 18 secured a narrow 2-1 victory against a Helena, Montana team.

The PCBA celebrated this momentous occasion with a series of special events, including a presentation of the American flag by the Post 18 Legion color guard, which included a commemorative flag honoring the 250th anniversary of the United States. Quinten Wilson, a recent Mitchell High School graduate and Post 18 player, performed the national anthem on trumpet, while Mayor Jordan Hanson threw the ceremonial first pitch.

“These kids deserve it,” stated PCBA president Jeff McCormick. “This moment is huge, and just getting to watch our kids play baseball on this field means a lot. My biggest goal is accomplished. We get to watch them play baseball again.” He expressed that the months of hard work leading up to this game were worthwhile, especially as he witnessed the players run onto the field for the first time.

Carter McCormick, a player and future graduate of Mitchell High School, shared his excitement: “I’ve been looking forward to this moment for my whole life. This moment is very special for our whole team. This season, every game means a lot more to us.” Although the team had already been competing for two weeks, the home game was a significant milestone in their journey.

The PCBA formed last September as a new entity separate from the Mitchell Baseball Association, aiming to revive Legion baseball in the wake of past issues that had sidelined the team since 2020. With the necessary organizational structure established, the South Dakota American Legion has sanctioned Mitchell’s teams to compete once more. Previously, a local 18-and-under team faced a challenging schedule filled mainly with out-of-state matches.

Now, the PCBA is set to host traditional rivals from South Dakota, with their next game scheduled for a doubleheader against Renner Post 307 on June 17, starting at 5 p.m. McCormick expressed enthusiasm for the community's support and the opportunities for local players to reconnect on the field: “Watching kids play baseball with their friends, not only on their team, but their friends from Yankton, from Watertown, from all the communities they play basketball, football, golf and whatever other sports against. That’s the part that’s going to be really exciting.”

With the home opener behind them, players and coaches are eager to focus on the future. Coach Caleb Crist remarked, “Moving forward, I just want us to stay focused on baseball. We’re here to compete, and we’re here to win.” Carter McCormick echoed this sentiment, stating, “We’ve done everything we needed to do to get to this point. Now, we really just want to go play baseball.”