From staff reports

When Nathan Rueckert of The Baseball Seams Co. saw that a first-year team from Sioux Falls was playing in the Little League World Series, he wanted to do something to help the boys remember the experience.

He shared his idea with The First National Bank in Sioux Falls, and the bank quickly agreed to commission artwork from Baseball Seams.

“We saw this as a great opportunity to continue to support Nathan’s artistry and to celebrate our Little League team,” said Derek Ohme, business banking team lead at The First National Bank in Sioux Falls. “The whole city really rallied behind this team in the last few months, which showed a lot of pride in Sioux Falls and our community. We always love seeing that.”

At a welcome-home celebration Tuesday night at the Sanford Pentagon, the 14 boys received their gifts – a custom piece of framed artwork featuring their Midwest Championship jersey uniform number, handcrafted from used baseballs.

“I wanted them to have something to remind them of all the hard work and dedication it took to get them where they were,” Rueckert said.

Rueckert said he and his team worked all weekend to create the artwork.

The bank also gave the team Baseball Seams’ signature artwork – a U.S. flag – with the label “2017 World Series Midwest Champions.”

Rueckert said Coach Jeff Riley called Wednesday to say it was the first thing he hung on the wall in his new home.

The team had an undefeated run in the district tournament and at the Midwest Championship before being eliminated in the World Series, which wrapped up Aug. 27 in Williamsport, Pa.