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Jul. 29—MADISON, S.D. — A five-day march to decide the South Dakota Class B American Legion baseball champion begins Friday, July 31, at Flynn Field.
Half of the 2026 field returns from 2025, while the other half includes three teams ending droughts of at least a decade, including one first-time qualifier.
Defending champion Dell Rapids and tournament debutant Volga get the tournament underway at 10 a.m. Friday, followed by Parkston, last season's runner-up, taking on Belle Fourche. In the evening quarterfinal session, Groton and Garretson duel at 5 p.m., with host Madison squaring up against Dakota Valley in the nightcap.
The double-elimination tournament runs through Tuesday, Aug. 4, with the title round set for 1 p.m. Tuesday and an if-necessary second game to follow.
Here is a brief look at all eight qualifiers.
Belle Fourche Post 32
Record: 11-17, Region 7B champion.
Last appearance: 2010.
Top batters: Gavin Pearson (.386 AVG, .506 OBP, 27 H, 17 BB, 18 RBI, 23 SB); Raif Parmeter (.333 AVG, 12 XBH, 3 HR, 24 RBI, 29 R).
Top pitchers: Caeyn Howard (33 IP, 1-1, 3.61 ERA, 40 K); Tate Thomsen (33.1 IP, 2-2, 4.83 ERA, 36 K, .239 BAA).
Dakota Valley Post 319
Record: 17-14, Region 3B champion.
Last appearance: 2025, won 2020 VFW 19U title (no Legion season).
Top batters: Noah Graham (.478 AVG, .648 OBP, 1.401 OPS, 13 XBH, 2 HR, 17 BB, 18 HBP, 22 RBI, 33 R), Jack Wiese (.321 AVG, 1.104 OPS, 13 XBH, 5 HR, 13 HBP, 30 RBI)
Top pitchers: Noah Graham (45.2 IP, 5-1, 2.45 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 48 K, .207 BAA), Grady Ramos (40.1 IP, 3-2, 3.12 ERA, 57 K, .212 BAA).
Dell Rapids Post 65
Record: 10-11, Region 2B champion.
Last appearance: 2025, fifth straight year qualifying with championships in 2023 and 2025.
Top players: Individual season statistics unavailable. Haiden Kaffar tallied three hits, one walk and one run batted in during the Phils' 5-4 win over Sioux Falls Post 911 in the Region 2B title game. Dell Rapids got three pitching wins from its bullpen during its tournament run, including the clincher by Ryan Brandenburg.
Garretson Post 23
Record: 9-14, Region 5B champion.
Last appearance: 2015.
Top players: Individual season statistics unavailable. Ian Buettner had two hits, while Brecken Honey and Tyler Erickson combined for seven walks and six runs scored in Garretson's 15-5 win over West Central in the Region 5B title game.
Groton Post 39
Record: 19-12, Region 1B champion.
Last appearance: 2025, third straight year qualifying.
Top batters: Carter Simon (.410 AVG, 1.165 OPS, 10 XBH, 4 HR, 28 RBI); Alex Abeln (.402 AVG, 35 H, 26 R, 17 BB)
Top pitchers: Jarrett Erdmann (45.1 IP, 6-3, 2.16 ERA, 54 K, .233 BAA); Gavin Englund (36.2 IP, 4-0, 2.86 ERA, 42 K, .238 BAA).
Madison Post 25
Record: 19-8, Host/automatic qualifier.
Last appearance: 2021, hosting for the first time since 1988.
Top batter: Cale Johnson (.311 AVG, .457 OBP, 23 H, 26 R, 14 SB); Quincy Kurtz (.288 AVG, .475 OBP, 14 RBI, 25 R, 10 HBP).
Top pitcher: J.D. Prorok (42 IP, 1.50 ERA, 80 K, 0.833 WHIP, .159 BAA); Braylon Oftedal (35 IP, 3.20 ERA).
Parkston Post 194
Record: 21-9, Region 4B champion.
Last appearance: 2025, third-straight year qualifying.
Top players: Individual season statistics unavailable. From the leadoff spot in the lineup, Jaxx Kurtenbach provided eight hits, six runs scored and two runs batted in during Parkston's Region 4B tournament run. In two outings totaling nine innings, Kash Neugebauer allowed two runs with 10 strikeouts during the tournament.
Volga Post 114
Record: 15-11, Region 6B champion.
Last appearance: Never (going back to 1979).
Top batters: Braden Danzeisen (.394 AVG, .522 OBP, 1.226 OPS, 14 XBH, 3 HR, 35 RBI); Bret Milton (.412 AVG, 33 H, 13 HBP, 31 R).
Top pitchers: Wyatt Hardt (32 IP, 3-2, 3.06 ERA, 23 K, .220 BAA); Broden Teske (28 IP, 5-3, 3.75 ERA).
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Half of the 2026 field returns from 2025, while the other half includes three teams ending droughts of at least a decade, including one first-time qualifier.
Defending champion Dell Rapids and tournament debutant Volga get the tournament underway at 10 a.m. Friday, followed by Parkston, last season's runner-up, taking on Belle Fourche. In the evening quarterfinal session, Groton and Garretson duel at 5 p.m., with host Madison squaring up against Dakota Valley in the nightcap.
The double-elimination tournament runs through Tuesday, Aug. 4, with the title round set for 1 p.m. Tuesday and an if-necessary second game to follow.
Here is a brief look at all eight qualifiers.
Belle Fourche Post 32
Record: 11-17, Region 7B champion.
Last appearance: 2010.
Top batters: Gavin Pearson (.386 AVG, .506 OBP, 27 H, 17 BB, 18 RBI, 23 SB); Raif Parmeter (.333 AVG, 12 XBH, 3 HR, 24 RBI, 29 R).
Top pitchers: Caeyn Howard (33 IP, 1-1, 3.61 ERA, 40 K); Tate Thomsen (33.1 IP, 2-2, 4.83 ERA, 36 K, .239 BAA).
Dakota Valley Post 319
Record: 17-14, Region 3B champion.
Last appearance: 2025, won 2020 VFW 19U title (no Legion season).
Top batters: Noah Graham (.478 AVG, .648 OBP, 1.401 OPS, 13 XBH, 2 HR, 17 BB, 18 HBP, 22 RBI, 33 R), Jack Wiese (.321 AVG, 1.104 OPS, 13 XBH, 5 HR, 13 HBP, 30 RBI)
Top pitchers: Noah Graham (45.2 IP, 5-1, 2.45 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 48 K, .207 BAA), Grady Ramos (40.1 IP, 3-2, 3.12 ERA, 57 K, .212 BAA).
Dell Rapids Post 65
Record: 10-11, Region 2B champion.
Last appearance: 2025, fifth straight year qualifying with championships in 2023 and 2025.
Top players: Individual season statistics unavailable. Haiden Kaffar tallied three hits, one walk and one run batted in during the Phils' 5-4 win over Sioux Falls Post 911 in the Region 2B title game. Dell Rapids got three pitching wins from its bullpen during its tournament run, including the clincher by Ryan Brandenburg.
Garretson Post 23
Record: 9-14, Region 5B champion.
Last appearance: 2015.
Top players: Individual season statistics unavailable. Ian Buettner had two hits, while Brecken Honey and Tyler Erickson combined for seven walks and six runs scored in Garretson's 15-5 win over West Central in the Region 5B title game.
Groton Post 39
Record: 19-12, Region 1B champion.
Last appearance: 2025, third straight year qualifying.
Top batters: Carter Simon (.410 AVG, 1.165 OPS, 10 XBH, 4 HR, 28 RBI); Alex Abeln (.402 AVG, 35 H, 26 R, 17 BB)
Top pitchers: Jarrett Erdmann (45.1 IP, 6-3, 2.16 ERA, 54 K, .233 BAA); Gavin Englund (36.2 IP, 4-0, 2.86 ERA, 42 K, .238 BAA).
Madison Post 25
Record: 19-8, Host/automatic qualifier.
Last appearance: 2021, hosting for the first time since 1988.
Top batter: Cale Johnson (.311 AVG, .457 OBP, 23 H, 26 R, 14 SB); Quincy Kurtz (.288 AVG, .475 OBP, 14 RBI, 25 R, 10 HBP).
Top pitcher: J.D. Prorok (42 IP, 1.50 ERA, 80 K, 0.833 WHIP, .159 BAA); Braylon Oftedal (35 IP, 3.20 ERA).
Parkston Post 194
Record: 21-9, Region 4B champion.
Last appearance: 2025, third-straight year qualifying.
Top players: Individual season statistics unavailable. From the leadoff spot in the lineup, Jaxx Kurtenbach provided eight hits, six runs scored and two runs batted in during Parkston's Region 4B tournament run. In two outings totaling nine innings, Kash Neugebauer allowed two runs with 10 strikeouts during the tournament.
Volga Post 114
Record: 15-11, Region 6B champion.
Last appearance: Never (going back to 1979).
Top batters: Braden Danzeisen (.394 AVG, .522 OBP, 1.226 OPS, 14 XBH, 3 HR, 35 RBI); Bret Milton (.412 AVG, 33 H, 13 HBP, 31 R).
Top pitchers: Wyatt Hardt (32 IP, 3-2, 3.06 ERA, 23 K, .220 BAA); Broden Teske (28 IP, 5-3, 3.75 ERA).
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