Baseball fundraisers planned

Two fundraisers are underway in Tea to support youth baseball and headed up by the newly formed Tea Baseball Association.

 A Chislic Feed and Silent Auction will be held Saturday, March 2, from 4-7 p.m. at the Tea American Legion. The Chislic Feed features a half-pound of beef chislic and a half-pound of fries for $20. Dining is available at the Legion with curbside to-go orders also available. You can also participate in the online Silent Auction, which features a variety of items from vacation escapes to tools to bar décor. The auction goes live Friday, Feb. 23. All proceeds go directly to the Tea Baseball Association, which provides baseball opportunities for children of all skill levels in Tea. Last season more than 600 kids ages 4-19 participated in summer programming.

The Tea Baseball Association was created to enhance baseball opportunities in the growing community of Tea. Because of the population increase, the community is now too large to participate in VFW baseball programs. Tea has joined the South Dakota ‘A’ Baseball class, which includes teams from larger communities. Similarly, in the coming years Tea will need to move up to a larger class in Legion baseball.

The TBA Board aims to create more competitive opportunities for players while ensuring every child who wants to play baseball can learn the game and play at an appropriate level that matches their skill sets. The TBA Board is working with the City of Tea to combine efforts. Middle school and high school players have already benefited from additional professional instruction. The TBA fundraisers support both short- and long-term improvements for both players and fans, working in conjunction with the City of Tea. Registration is now open for the 2024 season. 

In addition to the Chislic Feed, a weekly Chase the Ace fundraiser started in January with participants buying raffle tickets to have a chance to find the Ace of Diamonds hidden on a board. The growing pot was to be split fifty-fifty between the baseball association and the winner. A lucky player found the ace in week seven’s event. Now players continue to Chase the Ace — this time the Ace of Clubs. The new pot starts at $3,000. A player who finds a joker (there are two) will receive $500 donated by Squealer’s Smoke Shack. Chase the Ace is held Fridays at the Tea American Legion. Tickets, one for $5 or five for $20, are available all week via Venmo (@TeaBaseballAssociation) or by purchasing in person at the Legion. The drawing takes place at approximately 7 p.m. each week. 

For more information about the Tea Baseball Association and its events, see the TBA Facebook page and City of Tea website.