Progress & Industry: BVBA scores 2020 Legion tourney

By: 
Jill Meier, Journal editor
If you build it, they will come.
Brandon – and the Brandon Valley Baseball Association – built it, and this year, for the very first time, the Class A State American Legion Baseball Tournament will be played in Brandon.
Securing the state tournament in just their first attempt, no one was more surprised by the good fortune than the BVBA membership themselves.
“When we announced (construction of) the field, our ultimate goal was to get the state Legion tournament. We thought it was going to take three to four bids before they finally gave it to us, and that was their recommendation, too,” BVBA president Stuart Peschel explained. “But we applied one year and we got it.”
“It’s our first try and we’re impressed,” adds Rick Larsen, commander of sponsoring Legion Post 131, Charles R. Doman. “Working together, we accomplished this.”
State Legion baseball tournaments are typically held in Sioux Falls, Mitchell, Rapid City, and Pierre. Aberdeen and Watertown have also hosted in recent years.
And in 2020, Brandon joins the list.
“The Legion celebrated 100 years last year and have been involved with baseball since 1953, and so having a long-time Legion partner, I think helped,” Peschel said. “They’re dedicated (to the mission), they’re dedicated to baseball and they do a lot of great things for Valley Springs.”
Peschel adds the finished product – First National Bank Stadium @ Aspen Park – was largely the reason state Legion officials awarded the 2020 tournament to Brandon. 
“The field is beautiful and we’ve heard that over and over from multiple people,” Peschel said. “Teams want to play here, and not only that, but the success Coach (Jeremy) Van Heel has had at the high school and the Legion levels has brought some focus toward Brandon. People are thinking, ‘What’s going on in Brandon?’ They’re baseball players, too. They won a state tournament last year and came in third in the Legion tournament, so I think’s there’s a renewed focus on what we’re doing in Brandon.”
Amenities, including hotels, gas stations and restaurants were positives in luring tournament officials to select Brandon.
 “What we have to offer here for amenities – hotels, gas stations, restaurants – we’re not just a little bump on the interstate; we can offer everything people need when visiting,” Peschel said.
The BVBA took over Legion baseball operations from the veteran’s organization in November 2002, but have continued to work closely with the sponsoring Post. Peschel said the BVBA and Legion will partner in the planning of the 2020 tournament, along with enlisting help from the Brandon Valley Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Brandon.
“We want to develop a plan on how we can be the best state tournament host in the history of the state,” Peschel said.   

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