Sioux Falls’ newest baseball team brings family entertainment

By Mick Garry, for Pigeon605

The Sioux Falls Sunfish are a college-aged wood-bat baseball team that wanted to get things rolling a year ago but couldn’t because of the pandemic.

As the nation continues to climb out of a difficult year, there are signs wherever you look that the summer of 2021 is going to be much better. No one is more aware of that — or more anxious to get in on this summer of redemption — than Sioux Falls’ latest addition to its sports skyline.

“We’re super-excited about being here,” said assistant general manager Zach Campbell, a recent University of Wyoming graduate who worked with the Pierre franchise in the Expedition League in 2018. “This is all about bringing fun family-oriented entertainment and competitive baseball to the community.”

The 12-team league will play a 64-game season and serve as a skill-building showcase for college-eligible players from all over the country.

The season began Tuesday, and the home opener is June 4 at Augustana University’s Karras Park, home of Ronken Field. The schedule extends to mid-August with South Dakota franchises located in Pierre and Spearish, in addition to Sioux Falls, with teams also located in North Dakota, Wyoming and Nebraska.

“It’s been a huge hit in communities where we’ve had teams up to this point,” Campbell said. “Sioux Falls has always been on the map as far as places where the league wanted a team. We were ready to go last year, but obviously, we didn’t get the chance.”

The front office is led by general manager Nick Moen, a Twin Cities native and a former baseball scout and coach who also has worked in the hospitality business. He and his wife and young child moved to Sioux Falls from Portland, Ore., in September.
Late on a recent Sunday night, he was just finishing up work with the Sunfish. These long hours are a little hectic but tons of fun for a baseball-lover who is building a franchise and a Sioux Falls tradition.

“I just want to grow the game of baseball here,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of corporate sponsors ask me if we’re going after the Canaries — or are we trying to take their fan base. For me, the answer is no. They’re an independent professional team. I look at it as almost a feeder thing. I was talking to some of the guys tonight, and if we have a night off, we can go watch the Canaries and check it out. We just want to be part of the pie here in Sioux Falls.”

The team manager is Walker Bullington, who also serves as the head baseball coach at Rend Lake College in Ina, Illinois. Together, Moen and Bullington have put together a roster that will include 32 players. It will include local representation and a great number of players from just about everywhere else. That includes several from Texas and from other spots such as Georgia, Arizona, Washington, Nebraska, Minnesota, Idaho and Mexico.

Local players include Ganin Thompson (Sioux Falls/Michigan State), Brady Hawkins (Mitchell/South Dakota State), J.T. Mix (Farmers Branch, Texas/Augustana) and Mitch Stroh (Elk River, Minnesota/Augustana).

“They’re from all across the nation with a good mix from around here,” Campbell said. “The league brings in good talent. One of the players who was going to be on the team last year — before the pandemic cut it down — was drafted by the Cardinals.

There are definitely quality players who want to play ball this summer and get looked at by either colleges or professional teams.”

The team will have a variety of viewing options and ticket packages with prices starting at $8 for general admission. Reserved seats are $12 and $15. Tables that include all-you-can-eat concession choices — that includes beer — and a full-time waitstaff is available for $180 per game.

“People need entertainment options coming out of COVID-19,” Moen said. “Baseball is played outside, so you can be in a safe environment. For $8, you can get a ticket and go into the beer garden and watch good baseball.”

The Sunfish continue to search for host families who would be interested in having a player spend the summer with them.

Many from the roster are living in dorm rooms at present. That’s fine, Moen said, but ideally more from the team would be able to stay with families in Sioux Falls.

“We want to find good families for these kids where people can make lifelong memories and bring a college-age kid into your home,” he said. “Maybe you have a 12-year-old son who likes baseball. It could be a good mentorship opportunity. These are kids who will mow your yard, do the dishes and become part of the family.”

Those interested in providing a home for players can click here and be directed toward more information that explains how it works.

Corporate partnership and group outing inquiries can be directed to Moen at 763-843-7443 or email at [email protected].

“This goes well beyond baseball,” Moen said. “My wife and I have moved four times in five years, so I’m excited personally about settling in. But I’m also very excited about giving people a good time. It’s something new in a community that is already passionate about its other teams. We’d love to have a little piece of that. We want to get 300 to 600 people here a night and show them a good time. With the product we’re going to put on the field, we’re going to have a lot of fun.”