Sue Sitter/PCT Players for Rugby’s American Legion baseball team practice at Northern Lights Field, June 5.

American Legion baseball returned to Rugby after more than 15 years on June 5 at Northern Lights Field on the Rugby High School campus.

Players ranging in age from 16 to 18 took to the diamond for practice. Some still had skills fresh from a season of baseball with the Rugby Panthers in high school.

“We have a full roster of 18 kids. They’re from Rugby and Towner,” Coach Dave Schneibel said of the team.

“It’s almost all the high school baseball kids who played the whole season for us at Rugby High and a lot of pitchers,” said Schneibel, who co-coaches the team with Alex McClintock. “There’s a lot of depth with all the players, really.”

Several Rugby High Panthers warmed up on the field, including Jacob Ripplinger, Erik Foster, and Brody Schneibel, Coach Dave Schneibel’s son. All three had been strong on the pitcher’s mound for the Panthers. Alexis Duran of Towner, who played third base for the Panthers, joined the American Legion team as well.

The Panthers players had taken their team to the second runner-up spot in regionals for Rugby.

Schneibel said he was glad to see the American Legion Baseball program start up again for this year’s large group of high school-age players.

“We have good numbers and our high school numbers are strong. That’s why we felt we could bring American Legion baseball back – the amount of interest,” he said.

“And there are some other classes coming up that are rather large. So, hopefully, we can sustain this for a few years,” he added.

“These are the Babe Ruth kids who went to state a few years ago, so, hopefully, we’ve got an opportunity to do that again,” Schneibel said. “That was kind of fun, to build some momentum for the high school season and go from there.”

Schneibel noted, “I was told 2004 was the last year we had American Legion baseball in Rugby.”

Rick Foster, father of Erik Foster, helped the team out with their first practice. Foster said he remembered when American Legion baseball died out in 2004, “mostly due to numbers.”

“Then, sometimes, there aren’t people like Dave and I who want to get it back,” Foster added. “After it’s gone for a while, sometimes it’s hard to get it restarted.”

Rugby’s American Legion team will play against many opponents its members had faced as Panthers.

Velva will also play in the American Legion region, and Schneibel expected some tough competition from them. Also on Rugby’s schedule is the American Legion team from Cando. The players on that team were on the North Star High School Bearcats, the team that won regionals against Rugby. Rugby will also play non-conference games against New Rockford-Sheyenne and Surrey.

Schneibel said Rugby’s American Legion team would play about two to three games a week.

“The league tournament is July 18 through the 21,” he said. “Depending on how we finish, it’s like high school, and you lose out, you’re done.

“But state is July 27 through the 31,” he added. “That’s at Garrison.

“We’re looking forward to a fun, competitive season,” Schneibel said. “That’s what we’re hoping to put together and we have the kids to do it.”

Schneibel said several local businesses and organizations helped to bring American Legion baseball back to Rugby as well.

“I’d like to thank our sponsors,” Schneibel said. “We had quite a few businesses and charitable organizations who contributed to this to help us buy equipment and uniforms.”