PIERRE, S.D. – The Rapid City Post 22 Hardhats returned to the Championship Circle of South Dakota American Legion Baseball on Sunday. The Hardhats shut out Mitchell 9-0 in the title game sending Post 22 to the Central Plains Region baseball tournament in Dickinson, North Dakota later this week. Post 22 had only one game in the five they played in the tournament that was decided by 2 runs or less as they won their 6th state championship in the last 7 years. For Mitchell, it was the second consecutive year that they fell in the championship game of the tournament. The Central Plains Region tournament begins Wednesday in Dickinson. Rapid City will face the Iowa State Champions in the first game of the tournament on Wednesday morning.
The Pierre Post 8 American Legion baseball teams stay in the first State Tournament that it hosed in 10 years was a short one as Pierre went 1-2 losing to Brandon Valley by a 15-2 count on Friday. Next year and the year to follow, the State American Legion Baseball tournament will be played in Sioux Falls.