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Ely’s rich baseball history dates back decades and another chapter figures to be written this weekend in southern Minnesota.
For the first time in more than a decade, an Ely American Legion team has won its way into a state tournament, with the Junior Legion team winning the Northeast Substate crown last week and punching its ticket to St. Charles, site of this year’s Division II State Tournament.
Ely, now 12-4, faced Luverne Friday afternoon in one of four quarterfinal games.
The team was treated to a sendoff of sorts Wednesday at Veterans Memorial Field, as the Ely Baseball Association opened its concession stand to raise funds for the state tournament trip and to celebrate the season.
Head Coach Jim Wittrup and his 14-player squad were on the third baseline as Legion Post Commander Steve Saari and Ely Mayor Heidi Omerza offered well wishes and words of encouragement.
Longtime Legion Coach Tom Coombe also pointed to Ely’s baseball history and told the team “you have a chance to make history” and follow state tournament teams from Ely’s past and bring home some state tournament hardware.
Ely’s Junior Legion team finished sixth in the state as the host team in 2022, while the Senior Legion squad competed on its home turf when the Division II Senior State Tournament was held in town five years ago.
This marks the first time, however, since the Senior Legion team won the district title and finished second in the state in 2012, that an Ely Legion team has “earned” its way to state.
“That’s a heck of an accomplishment and something to be proud of,” Coombe told the group.
Wittrup agreed and hailed this squad for playing both fundamentally-sound and drama-free baseball, noting how well the group gets along both on an off the field.
The team was set to leave Thursday morning via school district suburbans driven by Wittrup and assistant coach Aaron Donais, and they took part in a pre-tournament banquet Thursday night in St. Charles.
While state tournament teams are housed by the hosts, with the Ely team set to stay in a Rochester hotel, the EBA faced expenses both for transportation and some meals.
That prompted a hastily- called fundraiser, which attracted about 150 people and included entertainment by way of a slow-pitch softball game featuring members of the Monday night Ely slow-pitch league.
Wittrup said he appreciated the support of the community, noting Ely’s longtime appreciation for baseball and adding “this was put together in less than a week.”
Representing the American Legion post, Saari said members had pride in the team, its efforts and the baseball tradition in Ely, while wishing the team well in St. Charles.
Omerza remembered the days when her oldest son Elliot was part of the program and an Ely team that advanced to state, urging the group to savor the moments and memories of the state tournament experience.
The state tournament trip comes in advance of a milestone year for Ely baseball.
In 2025, Ely will mark 50 years since hosting its first American Legion State Tournament by hosting yet another one - next year’s Division II State Tournament set for July 31-Aug. 2.
Coombe pointed out that all of the players on the current Junior Legion team will have the chance to be part of next year’s Senior Legion team as well.
“There are a lot of guys who never get the chance to play in a state tournament, and you’ll get that chance two years in a row,” said Coombe. “Make the most of that.”
Other first-round matchups Friday had Sibley East taking on Montevideo, Holdingford meeting Caledonia, and host St. Charles taking on Parkers Prairie.
A win against Luverne would put Post 248 in Saturday night’s semifinals, while a loss results in a trip to Saturday’s consolation round.
Both the third-place and title games are set for Sunday at St. Charles.
