Official Guide to Delano 2019 | Page 35

Photo by Matt Kane Baseball in Delano always draws a good crowd, and that was the case in 2013, when fans packed Delano Municipal Baseball Park for the State Amateur Baseball Tournament. Fans will again flock to Delano in August for the 2019 state tournament. State Tournament Returns TO DELANO IN 2019 JOE SCHLEPER Delano State Tournament Tri-Chair The State Amateur Baseball Tournament is returning to Delano this coming August. Delano will host this prestigious town team tournament with Maple Lake and Dassel, starting the weekend of Aug. 16. The tournament dates are Aug. 16-18; Aug. 23-25; and Aug. 30-Sept. 2. In 2018 at Shakopee and New Prague, the state tournament had a paid attendance of over 17,000 fans, with 20,000-plus viewers in all. The 10-day tournament will be an exciting event, bringing people and business into the community. In 2013, the state tournament hosted by Delano and Maple Lake and Howard Lake had a paid attendence of 14,164. At the time, that was the most fans a tournament had seen since 1998. In recent years, Delano Municipal Baseball Park has hosted the 2016 State American Legion Baseball Tournament, the 2013 State Amateur Town Team Tournament, and a St. Paul Saints game in 2012. The ball park annually hosts over 100 baseball games for ages 14 to 40-plus, along with other events, like the 4th of July Queen Coronation and the Relay for Life opening ceremonies. Delano Municipal Baseball Park has received distinguished honors, such as the 2013 State High School Field of the Year and the 2014 Midwest Region Field of the Year! The State Amateur Baseball Board has had a long standing policy that a town could only apply to host a state tournament every 10 years. However, the Board approached Delano and Maple Lake about applying for another tournament shortly after the successful 2013 State Tournament. The Delano board completed the application process in 2016, which includes preparing an information booklet about the ballpark and town, a Power Point slide show, a marketing video, and an oral presentation in front of the board. The Board amended the10-year rule to five years, and Delano and Maple Lake were selected to host the town state tournament in 2019. www.DaveandKellyTeam.com [email protected] Your Local Real Estate Experts! ® 763-972-2233 Submitted Photo The last time Delano hosted the state amateur baseball tournament, in 2013, draftee Mike Adelman of Clinton threw a no-hitter for Dumont in a 2-0 win over Lamberton. At the time, it was the 20th no-hitter in tournament history. DelanoHeraldJournal.com/guide | 35 |