WAKEIELD – A northeast Nebraska baseball diamond will take center stage over a five-day period welcoming in several other communities during American Legion competition.
Eaton Field will be the host site of the 2024 Class C American Legion baseball state tournament from Saturday, August 3 – Wednesday, August 7.
Teams being represented along with the host, Wakefield Post 81 will be Crofton Post 128, Albion Cornerstone Bank Post 162, Pender Post 55, Palmer-Wolbach-Greeley Post 120/236/186, Malcolm Post 354, Imperial Horns Post 304 and Tecumseh Post 2.
Paul Eaton, a member of the coaching staff for Wakefield Post 81 talked about the process to host a tournament.
“We always put into host an Area Tournament or a State Tournament,” said Eaton. “We haven’t had very many lately. It used to be they didn’t have a lot of people applying and you got more, but we’re really excited to have this one.”
Some Major League baseball talent have participated in the state tournaments in Wakefield being
Jake Diekman who pitched for Wymore, Travis Hughes from Elwood and Thad Weber from Friend.
“A lot of people think there aren’t any good players in Class C, a lot of college coaches don’t think there are and I think fans don’t think there are. Usually, the state of Nebraska has produced in the last few years, I’ve been watching it pretty closely, but it’s usually 3-4 Nebraska high school graduates that are in the Major Leagues.”
Coach Eaton will be wrapping up a career that spans 57 years.
“You remember some of the meaningful moments and it’s not always your best players that comes back and has the best memories of playing for you,” Eaton mentioned. “We’ve had guys that didn’t play much that said that was kind of the highlight of their year was playing on Wakefield’s baseball team and you kind of thing about that.”
The Wakefield Post 81 Seniors are 14-15 on the season and have won six of their past nine games.
The program book was being put together earlier this week following a tremendous response with ad sales.
Coach Eaton added there’s been a great group of volunteers at Eaton Field.
“Our field was not built with a huge amount of tax dollars,” Eaton added. “Most of it was fundraised and most of the labor has been volunteered. I know I could add up a thousand people that helped us in the 57 years that I’ve been coaching and gave up their time and talents and make this field look like a nice ballfield.”
Wakefield has previously hosted 17 state tournaments being 2006, 2001, 1997, 1990, 1984, 1979 and 1978 for Class C Seniors; 2013, 2002, 1999, 1993, 1991, 1988, 1984, 1979, and 1978 for Class C Juniors as well as in 1980 for Class B Seniors.
First round games will open with Crofton vs. Albion at 10 a.m. on Saturday, followed by Pender vs. PWG at 1 p.m., two-time defending Class C Seniors champion Macolm will then face Imperial at 4 p.m. with the host Wakefield closing out the night against Tecumseh at 7 p.m.
Sunday elimination games will open the day at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. followed by winner’s bracket outings at 4 and 7 p.m. On Monday, two more elimination games will be played at 1 and 4 p.m. with a winner’s bracket outing at 7 p.m. Tuesday will offer games at 4 and 7 p.m. The Class C Senior American Legion baseball state tournament championship game is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Wednesday, August 7.
Coach Eaton is excited about the tournament.
“We just hope people come out and watch these kids play baseball,” Eaton mentioned. “Because if you want to keep them playing baseball you need to show up to the state tournaments and they have an atmosphere that they say, ‘hey we’d like to keep playing because we’d like to get back to the field’ and we’re hoping the field will meet their standards.”
Cost to attend is $10 for adults, students will be charged $5 while Veterans and kids five and under will be free.
