Rapid City Post-22 won the state American Legion championship on Sunday afternoon by defeating Brandon Valley Post 131 with a final score of 9-1.
In the summer with a pandemic, it was unknown for quite some time if a season was even going to happen. At the end of the day, a season took place and a state champion was crowned in South Dakota.
In an interview with the Rapid City Journal on Sunday, Post 22 Hardhats manager Kelvin Torve said “we played a full game today, and it was fun to watch. It was a team win. I am honored to be their coach and I am honored to be a part of the program.
Post 22 is the most decorated program in South Dakota American Legion baseball history, now winning 43 state championships since their inception around WWII. Their resume also includes eight national regional championships and an American Legion World Series championship in 1993.
In 2018, SDPB premiered a documentary entitled ‘Dynasty on the Diamond,’ which dove into the history and legacy of the Post 22 program, specifically during the era of when South Dakota Sports Hall of Famer Dave Ploof was manager of the squad.
Last season, the Rapid City Hardhats made it to the state championship, but were defeated by Renner.
Because of the pandemic, there won’t be any national post-season play this year with American Legion baseball. Sunday’s state championship game brought the official end to the American Legion baseball season in South Dakota.
