A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION, Encouraging the South Dakota High School Activities Association to sanction baseball.

WHEREAS, the sport of baseball has a rich history in South Dakota, where large and small communities alike come together to support America's pastime. Thousands of South Dakotans compete at all levels of baseball each year, with some players going on to compete at the highest levels in the nation; and

WHEREAS, South Dakota is one of only two states, including Wyoming, that does not have sanctioned high school baseball through its statewide activities association; and

WHEREAS, in 2021, fifteen Class A teams and thirty-eight Class B teams were registered with the South Dakota High School Baseball Association, totaling fifty-three teams representing nearly seventy-five South Dakota schools. More South Dakota schools would have the opportunity to participate if the sport was sanctioned; and

WHEREAS, with recent successes in the Little League World Series and the Babe Ruth World Series by South Dakota teams on a national scale, baseball will continue to grow as a popular sport in this state, opening opportunities for young players to compete; and

WHEREAS, while club baseball is thriving in this state, there are significant advantages to being an officially sanctioned sport, including greater access to competition, enhanced status, and financial support:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Senate of the Ninety-Seventh Legislature of the State of South Dakota, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that the South Dakota High School Activities Association should pursue the process of sanctioning baseball.