For athletes, playing for local semi-professional teams can be a rare treat. For one Sioux Falls resident, it has become a reality. An Augustana athletes love for the game of baseball has brought him back to Sioux Falls.
The Sioux Falls Canaries begin its 2013 home season tonight at the bird cage against the Sioux City Explorers. Canaries players come from all over the United States. Some are from the west coast, others the east coast and everything in between. One player though is from near here. Nate Baumann grew up in Marshall, Minnesota, and played as a Viking at Augustana College in Sioux Falls. Baumann says playing for a team he grew up watching is like a dream come true.
"It’s a little surreal, it hasn’t quite hit me yet you to be playing for the canaries. I think the opening day when we get a bunch of fans here and all my friends and family are gonna be in the stands it’s gonna be a little different but right now it just feels like I’m on another baseball team," Baumann says.
Baumann says the stadium in Sioux Falls is a pitchers ballpark which means there is a lot of ground to cover for outfielders. As an outfielder Baumann says he is looking forward to the challenge. In 2012 the 24 year old Baumann played in Schaumburg Florida for a different league. He is listed as a rookie but Baumann says there are still everyday goals he sets for himself to perfect his game.