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One of the state’s longest- running American Legion baseball tournaments takes place next weekend in Ely.
The DQ Grill and Chill Classic, which started on a June weekend in 1988 with only four teams, is still in existence and the 2024 edition is set for June 21-23 at Ely’s fabled ballpark - Veterans Memorial Field.
Eight teams are involved this year and they’ll play 16 games over three days, including a couple down the road at Soudan.
Four teams from southern Minnesota, including DQ Classic mainstay Kenyon will travel 250 miles or more to Ely and join the hosts from Post 248 as well as teams from Rock Ridge, Hermantown and International Falls. While Ely has developed a reputation as a destination for multiple baseball tournaments every year - including five in 2024 - the DQ event has been going the longest and remains a major event on Ely’s baseball calendar.
“This one started what we do with regular season tournaments every summer,” said Tom Coombe, who organizes the event and is Ely’s longtime Legion coach. “Ely has always been a place for playoffs and major postseason tournaments, but with the DQ, we started a tradition that Ely is a place to be during the regular season as well.”
Events such as the DQ Classic not only brings teams together for multiple games, but serve as an economic jolt in town, with hundreds of people coming to Ely during a three-day span.
Kenyon has been coming to Ely every year since 2012. “We’ve developed a great relationship with the folks from Kenyon and Wanamingo,” said Coombe. “On the last day of the tournament they are always making reservations for the following year and they bring a lot of parents and fans every year. We have made the return trip there a few times and our high school team was there this spring.”
Sacred Heart/MACCRAY is back after a twoyear absence and comes from the southwestern part of the state, while both Miesville and White Bear Lake are coming from the Twin Cities area.
Host Ely is the defending champion but figures to have trouble defending its crown in 2024.
“I think the field of teams from top to bottom is a lot stronger,” said Coombe. “Whoever wins this tournament is going to have to beat some good teams and have some pitching depth.”
The DQ Classic serves as just a warmup of things to come. From July 11-14, Ely will host its Midsummer Classic, bringing a record 12 teams to the area for a fourday event.
