Hayfield’s Anna Bamlet on legion softball now in Minnesota

(ABC 6 News) — On Monday June 20, the first-ever District 1 legion softball game was played, the two teams involved players from Hayfield and Southland’s softball rosters.

One player from Hayfield is Anna Bamlet, a recent graduate who discussed the significance of finally having legion competition for softball in Minnesota.

"I think for me, it was really cool to be able to represent our community and Legion 330," Bamlet said. "And also kind of work with the Southland community and really start something going for girls. You know, they’ve had legion baseball for a long time. And I think it’s really cool that girls future and present now get that opportunity…"

The inaugural game was also timely as 2022 marks 50 years since the passing of Title IX, the legislation that prohibits sex-based discrimination under any educational or federally-aided activity.

"With it being the 50th anniversary, obviously, there was a little more recognition of Title IX and everything this year as well," Bamlet continued. "I think that that’s so promising for the future generations, for maybe my kids someday, my little sisters … I am so happy that it happened and in this year of all years…"

Bamlet will attend and play at Coe College and also encourages any girl who played softball to join legion competition. Bamlet cites the love of the game as well as the sense of playing for the entire town community as positives of legion softball.