Tea Baseball Association aims to expand youth baseball

A new organization in Tea will take on baseball in the city.

The Tea Baseball Association was recently formed with eight board members. Board president Rob Schramm said this new organization will help grow baseball in the city.

“We need to provide a higher level for competitive kids as well as keeping the rec league going as well,” he said. “I think it’s going to grow it faster than what it’s growing at right now for the way that we can divide teams for competitive play.”

The association is working alongside the city so they will have t-ball through high school and legion baseball. They are working with the city for scheduling and forming the teams.

Because Tea has grown so fast, they have outgrown VFW baseball. Instead of VFW ball, Tea players will play in South Dakota A Baseball that features teams from larger communities. 

The younger players will play rec baseball against Harrisburg teams. The competitive teams for the younger ages will join a Sioux Empire Baseball Association competitive league.

Legion baseball will remain in the same class for the next couple of years before having to move up a class.

The association is working on a couple of fundraisers that will help offset instructors and hired coaches for some of the teams. Currently, they are running a Chase the Ace fundraiser where they draw every Friday night at the American Legion until they draw the ace of diamonds.

In March, they are planning a chislic feed on March 2 at the Legion. In addition to the feed, they will also have silent auction items.

This baseball season, Schramm said the prices are very similar to what they were last year with some increased dollars on the late registrations. 

Registration will be done on the Tea Park & Rec website, where people can find more information on the different levels of play.

“Every kid that signs up to play baseball in Tea will have a place to play,” Schramm said.