By Scout Nelson
For nearly a century, baseball has been a special part of Hub City, a rural community nestled between Centerville, Beresford, and Vermillion. Growing up in Hub City, Brendyn Richards fondly remembers playing baseball on fields surrounded by corn and soybean crops.
The community is known for hosting South Dakota’s first night baseball game, when a touring Negro League team played under lights, they brought themselves. Richards’ uncle still remembers watching the game and hearing the loud generators.
Baseball was always a family affair for Richards. His uncles played for local teams, and later, he coached his children and their friends in youth leagues. But over time, the Hub City baseball field grew quiet.
Richards now wants to bring baseball back to Hub City. His inspiration comes from joining the Rural POWER program—a leadership development course by the South Dakota Farmers Union and the Billie Sutton Leadership Institute. The program focuses on community service and rural leadership.
During the year-long program, participants are encouraged to work on projects that benefit their hometowns. For Richards, this meant reviving Hub City’s baseball tradition and writing a book on its history.
Richards is close to completing the book and has secured a donor to help cover the cost of field lights. However, since the baseball field is on church land, he awaits permission before moving forward.
Despite the challenges, Richards remains hopeful. He believes everyone should make time to give back to their community, no matter how busy they are.
Richards also balances his professional role with service in various organizations, proving that with commitment, anyone can make a difference.
Photo Credit: istock-fotokostic
Categories: South Dakota, Crops, Corn, Soybeans, General