Minnesota American Legion Baseball inducts its director into Hall of Fame

By Tim Engstrom
Players are recognized at the Minnesota American Legion Baseball Div. I Tournament Banquet at the Medina Entertainment Center on Wednesday, July 30.

MEDINA — Many honors were given out at the Minnesota American Legion Baseball Div. I Banquet on Wednesday night.

From left are Minnesota American Legion Baseball Committee member Jim Peck, Prior Lake Legion Lakers coach Taylor Smith and Minnesota American Legion Commander Linda Dvorak.

Taylor Smith, coach of the Prior Lake Legion Lakers, was inducted into the Minnesota American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame. He shared that he deals with cerebral palsy and loves coaching.
Longtime Baseball Committee member Jim Peck said Smith immediately responds to questions and tasks asked of him. Peck had nominated Smith for the honor.

From left are Minnesota American Legion Baseball 4th District Director Gail Kalata, Minnesota American Legion Baseball Director Randy Schaub and Minnesota American Legion Commander Linda Dvorak.

Minnesota State Baseball Director Randy Schaub was inducted into the Hall of Fame, too. He has been director since fall 2019. He has coached high school and Legion baseball in Albert Lea and Renville County West. He lives in Danube.

The honor was a total surprise for the director. State Committee member Gail Kalata presented the plaque.

Minnesota American Legion Commander Linda Dvorak was there for the presentations. At her table were her husband, Past State Commander Mark Dvorak, along with Minnesota American Legion Auxiliary President Robin Dorf and Minnesota American Legion Chaplain Jim Mead.

From left are Moorhead Post 21 baseball volunteer Matt Baker, Minnesota American Legion Commander Linda Dvorak and Moorhead Post 21 Adjutant Tim Haugen.

Post of the Year went to Moorhead Post 21, which is investing $250,000 in Matson Field upgrades in Moorhead. Post 21 Adjutant Tim Haugen was on hand to receive the honor. He said the post hopes to host the Div. I Sr. tournament in the coming years and to be part of a Fargo-Moorhead partnership for hosting the American Legion Central Plains Regional Tournament on a permanent basis.

Graduate of the Year went to Orono High School Basketball Coach Barry Wohler, who played Legion Baseball for Bird Island in his youth and led his Bird Island-Lake Lillian high school to back-to-back titles in football and basketball. He was a two-sport athlete for the Minnesota Gophers, playing basketball and baseball, and a member of the 1982 men’s basketball Big Ten Championship team.

From left are Minnesota American Legion Baseball Director Randy Schaub, Graduate of the Year recipient and Orono High School basketball coach Barry Wohler and Minnesota American Legion Commander Linda Dvorak.

He played many years playing pro baseball in the minor leagues before becoming a basketball coach.

The keynote speaker was Eric Mech with The Purpose Factor, and he spoke about finding purpose and avoiding permissions to be successful.

About 500 people attended the banquet.

The Minnesota American Legion Baseball Div. I State Tournament Banquet is one of the largest baseball events of the year.