Aberdeen Smittys

Aberdeen Smittys American Legion Post 24 Baseball Teams - Legion - Jr.

Legion
South Dakota Class "A" Baseball Teams - 16U, 14U, 13U, 13/14combined
Youth 2nd-6th Grade Summer Travel Baseball

MEET THE COACH ⚾️Coach Donnie Soderlund
Assistant Coach | 14UFormer positions: Outfield | PitcherYears playing baseball:...
06/04/2026

MEET THE COACH ⚾️
Coach Donnie Soderlund
Assistant Coach | 14U

Former positions: Outfield | Pitcher
Years playing baseball: 10

Coach Donnie played Smittys baseball from 13U through Legion and now gets to stay involved from the coaching side.
When he’s not coaching, there’s a good chance he’s still watching baseball.

One thing he wishes every player understood: We want to win just as much as you do.

Favorite baseball memory from this age? Making the State Championship.
Pregame ritual? Never really had one. Just show up ready to play.

Favorite food: Tacos
Pump up song: Nice For What by Drake

Favorite team: Minnesota Twins
Favorite player: Royce Lewis

Something people might not know: Coach Donnie attends NDSU.

When asked what he hopes people remember about this team years from now, the answer was simple:
State Champions.

Good luck this season, Coach Donnie. Let’s make it a summer worth remembering ⚾️

MEET THE COACH ⚾️Coach Casey ViningHead Coach | 14UFormer positions: 3rd Base | Pitcher
Years playing baseball: 17 and s...
06/04/2026

MEET THE COACH ⚾️
Coach Casey Vining
Head Coach | 14U

Former positions: 3rd Base | Pitcher
Years playing baseball: 17 and still adding

Coach Casey played Smittys baseball from 2019–2024 and now gets the opportunity to stay involved from the coaching side.

When he’s not at the ballpark, you’ll find him spending time with family and friends, working, or catching up on sleep.

One thing he wishes every player understood about coaching: It’s not as easy as it looks. Strategy plays a huge role in the game.
Favorite baseball memory from his playing days? The bus rides and hotel trips. Turns out some of the best memories happen away from the field.

Pregame routine as a player was pretty simple: Music on. Stretch. Get ready.
As a coach? Show up and be yourself.

Favorite food: Steak

Favorite team: Minnesota Twins
Favorite player: Mike Trout

When asked what he hopes players remember years from now, his answer wasn’t about wins or stats:
Be the best version of yourself and don’t take anything for granted.

Good luck this season, Coach Casey. Let’s make it a great one ⚾️

MEET THE COACH ⚾️Coach Andrew Ristau-Richardson
16U Head CoachFormer positions: Catcher | 3rd Base | 1st Base
Years play...
06/04/2026

MEET THE COACH ⚾️
Coach Andrew Ristau-Richardson
16U Head Coach

Former positions: Catcher | 3rd Base | 1st Base

Years playing baseball: 15

Coach Andrew played Smittys baseball from 13U in 2018 through Legion in 2023 and now gets the chance to stay around the game from the coaching side.

When he’s not coaching, he’s either working or watching sports.

One thing he wishes every player understood about coaching:
There’s a lot happening behind the scenes to make practices, games, and everything in between run the way they should.

Favorite baseball memory from this age?
Playing in the Legion State Tournament.

Pregame routine has changed a little over the years.
Get everything ready, then take a moment to thank the Lord for the opportunity.

Favorite food: Country Fried Steak

Pump up song: Too Fast by Jason Aldean

Favorite team: Minnesota Twins
Favorite player: Byron Buxton

Something people might not know:
Coach Andrew played two years of baseball at the University of Northwestern – St. Paul.

When asked what he hopes players remember years from now:
An ignited love for baseball.

Good luck this season, Coach Andrew. Let’s make it one they remember ⚾️

MEET THE COACH ⚾️Coach Avery Bad Moccasin13U Asst CoachFormer positions: Center Field | 3rd Base
Years playing baseball:...
06/03/2026

MEET THE COACH ⚾️
Coach Avery Bad Moccasin
13U Asst Coach

Former positions: Center Field | 3rd Base
Years playing baseball: 2010–2020

Coach Avery played Smittys baseball from 2016–2020 and now gets to help the next generation build their own memories.

When he’s not coaching, you’ll find him playing men’s softball, going to live sporting events, or spending time outside in the summer.

One thing he wishes every player understood about coaching:
Baseball has a situation for everything. The more you prepare and practice all parts of the game, the better you become.

Favorite baseball memory?
Bottom of the last inning. Up by one. Runner on second.
A deep fly ball to center.
Catch made. Runner tagged.
Throw to third.
Game over.
Team pouring out of the dugout to celebrate.

Pregame ritual was never complicated: No superstition. Just play catch and get ready.

Favorite food: Pizza
Pump up song: Jet Airliner by Steve Miller Band

Favorite team: Los Angeles Dodgers
Favorite player: Freddie Freeman

Something people might not know:
From time to time, Coach Avery DJs wedding receptions and other events.

When asked what he hopes players remember years from now, his answer wasn’t wins or losses:
The bus rides. The tough practices. Playing baseball with your friends.

Good luck this season, Coach Avery. Let’s make some memories ⚾️

Tonight’s game is postponed for weather- stay safe out there! Join us for our next home game, Tuesday June 9 at 1pm as w...
06/03/2026

Tonight’s game is postponed for weather- stay safe out there! Join us for our next home game, Tuesday June 9 at 1pm as we take on Yankton! It will be Camo Night so be ready.

A fun night at the baseball field featuring the national anthem by the Aberdeen Shriners, and a celebration for the 4th ...
06/03/2026

A fun night at the baseball field featuring the national anthem by the Aberdeen Shriners, and a celebration for the 4th grade team after winning their weekend tournament!

Be sure to join us tomorrow for Beach N Baseball! Wear your flip flops and Hawaiian print- first 30 people to enter the park get free sunglasses and a beach ball!

Let’s meet the coaches from the rest of the Smittys organization! MEET THE COACH ⚾️Coach Tyler Hoffman
Jr. Legion Head C...
06/02/2026

Let’s meet the coaches from the rest of the Smittys organization!
MEET THE COACH ⚾️
Coach Tyler Hoffman
Jr. Legion Head Coach

Former position: Outfield

Years playing baseball: 19

Coach Tyler played Smittys baseball from 2015–2021 and now gets to be back in the dugout leading the next group.

When he’s not coaching, he’s lifting with A Hoff.

One thing he wishes every player understood:
The will to win doesn’t change from being a player to being a coach.

Favorite baseball memory at this age?
Sweeping Brookings.

Pregame routine has stayed pretty consistent over the years:
Music on and get ready to compete.

Favorite food: Steak and rice

Pump up song: Boot Scootin’ Boogie

Favorite team/player: Jake McCarthy / St. Louis Cardinals

When asked what he hopes people remember about this team years from now:
That they had fun the entire time and competed their hearts out.

Something people might not know…
Coach Tyler stands by the opinion that Sofia the First has great songs.

Good luck this season, Coach Tyler. Let’s compete and make it a summer to remember ⚾️

MEET THE PLAYER ⚾️ #4 | Drake Soderlund�LF | 2B | P12 years in the game and coming back after one of his favorite baseba...
06/02/2026

MEET THE PLAYER ⚾️
#4 | Drake Soderlund�LF | 2B | P

12 years in the game and coming back after one of his favorite baseball memories, winning Regions last year.

Pregame routine? No routine. Show up and play.

Favorite food: Medium buffalo wings
Dream trip: Bahamas
Dream concert: Kanye

Outside of baseball, he likes hanging out with friends.

Favorite team: Minnesota Twins
Favorite player: Byron Buxton

Something people might not know: Drake’s been to half the states.

What makes him laugh? His friends.
Teammates describe him as funny and a bit of a troll, which feels like important scouting information for the rest of the roster.

After summer ball, Drake’s heading back to CHS.

Parents: Diane & Don
Brothers: Dane & Donnie

Good luck this season, Drake. Keep the dugout loose and the baseball serious.

It’s time for Beach ‘N’ Baseball featuring your very own Aberdeen Smittys Legion team! Join us at Fossum Field on Wednes...
06/02/2026

It’s time for Beach ‘N’ Baseball featuring your very own Aberdeen Smittys Legion team!

Join us at Fossum Field on Wednesday, June 3 at 5 and 7pm for baseball and beach fun!

The first 30 people to enter the ballpark will receive free sunglasses and a beach ball!

Wear your Hawaiian shirt and flip flops or other beach accessories and get ready for a fun evening out!

MEET THE PLAYER ⚾️ #13 | JaSean Rivera
1B | P13 years in the game and heading into another season.One of JaSean’s favori...
06/01/2026

MEET THE PLAYER ⚾️
#13 | JaSean Rivera
1B | P

13 years in the game and heading into another season.

One of JaSean’s favorite Smittys memories was beating Harrisburg at Regionals.

Pregame starts the same way every time: Pray with the team and get ready to compete.

Favorite food: Steak
Dream trip: Dominican Republic
Dream concert: Rod Wave

Outside of baseball, JaSean likes playing MLB The Show.

Favorite team: New York Yankees
Favorite player: Ben Rice

Something people might not know: His mom is his best friend.
What makes him laugh? His mom.

Teammates describe him as loud, which means there’s probably never any question where JaSean is in the dugout.

After summer ball, he’ll head back to Central for his senior year.

Parents: Manuel & Rachel
Brother: Ayden & Isiah
Sisters: Grace & Remi

Good luck this season, JaSean. Finish strong and make senior year a good one ⚾️

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Aberdeen, SD
57401

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