A tournament to remember
Watertown Arrows Post 17 entered the 2026 Class A American Legion Baseball Tournament as the No. 10 seed and emerged with a 2‑2 record, securing a place among the final four teams before bowing out with an 8‑0 defeat to Sioux Falls West in the semifinals.
The squad opened the tournament with a 10‑2 loss to eventual champions Rapid City Post 22 on July 28, then rebounded with a 5‑3 victory over Brandon Valley in eight innings on July 29 and a 7‑0 shutout of Rapid City Post 320 on July 30. Coach Ryan Neale praised the team's resilience, noting that the only defeats came against the two clubs that contested the state championship.
Rapid City Post 22 finished the tournament undefeated at 5‑0, capturing the championship with an 8‑3 win over Sioux Falls West on August 1. The triumph marked the organization's 45th state title and earned them a berth at the Central Plains Regional in Mandan, North Dakota.
Wyatt Reeder of Rapid City Post 22 was named Big Stick and tournament MVP after batting .769 (10‑for‑13) and delivering strong defensive play. Sioux Falls West received the Porter T. Talcott Sportsmanship Award for exemplary conduct throughout the event.
Beyond the headline results, the tournament schedule featured a flurry of additional contests. Madison clinched a berth in the State B Legion tournament championship by edging Volga 4‑3 on August 2, while Dakota Valley and Dell Rapids posted elimination‑game wins over Groton and Parkston respectively. Earlier in the week, Volga had taken a 4‑3 victory over Groton, and Madison had beaten Parkston 9‑2 on August 1.
Watertown Post 17 also competed in the Class A Junior Legion tournament, dropping three straight games to Renner Post 307 Kings, Harrisburg Gold and Sioux Falls East. Meanwhile, Brandon Valley Black captured the Junior Legion championship with 11‑1 and 9‑5 wins over Harrisburg Gold and Renner on August 2. Redfield won Region 6B with a 14‑4 triumph over Volga after an 16‑15 eight‑inning thriller on July 29, and Sisseton secured a spot in the state Junior Legion tournament by winning Region 1B from July 27‑29.
The upcoming 94th South Dakota State Amateur Baseball Tournament will run from August 5‑16 at Cadwell Park in Mitchell, featuring Class A games in Yankton from August 7‑9. Aberdeen Circus Sports Bar earned a berth in the state Class A tournament by splitting games on August 1 in Brookings, rounding out a busy summer of competition across the state.