SDHSAA moves to sanction high school baseball worries Legion official
PIERRE — An American Legion official raised concerns after two high schools requested that the South Dakota High School Activities Association consider sanctioning baseball.
The association got the request from Superintendent Matt Alley of McCook Central High School and Superintendent Eric Denning of Mount Vernon High School. Denning also serves on the SDHSAA board of directors.
Dan Wyatt, a Legion member from Madison, spoke to the SDHSAA board via Zoom during its meeting Wednesday, April 17.
“I could see Legion baseball done in South Dakota in three or four years if this goes through,” Wyatt told the board.
SDHSAA Executive Director Dan Swartos explained to Wyatt that after the board sanctioned softball, it approved a formal process for the sanctioning of new sports. That process would take at least a year, Swartos said, and if the sport is approved by the board, it would be another year before the first season started.
The first step is a written request from a school or SDHSAA staff. In the next year a proposal must be completed that includes a history of the sport, data on interest from member schools, recommendations on a season timeframe and projected start-up costs for schools.
A steering committee would then conduct a post-season finance and venue study as well as study the impact on the school calendar and its impact on current programs. If approved by the board of directors, an advisory committee would be established and a handbook developed.
Swartos assured Wyatt that his organization as well as the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the South Dakota High School Baseball Association would be included in the planning process.
Some high schools offer baseball through the South Dakota High School Baseball Association. Wyatt said the Legion and the baseball association work well together in Madison.
Despite assurances from Swartos, Wyatt remained concerned. “Would I like to see it happen?” Wyatt asked. “No.”
The board unanimously voted to start the process of sanctioning baseball. Denning abstained from the vote.
