Kliniske named to American Legion Hall of Fame
Grafton man coached 21 seasons
By Todd Morgan

Anyone who played for or with Chad Kliniske, the most recent member of the North Dakota American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame, it has always been about the program. Kliniske coached American Legion baseball in Grafton from 1999-2019 and the high school team from 1998-2018. In the Legion ranks he won two state tournaments back-to-back in 2012 and 2013 and those were preceded by two second place finishes in, during the same years at the state high school baseball tournament.

What Kliniske remembers most about those years was Jamie Villarreal earning the state tournament most valuable player two years in a row. “I always told my players, act like you have been there before, but when we won the state tournament in 2012, I hadn’t been there before,” he said. “When we won, I ran
onto the field and the first person I ran into was Joe Demers, about halfway between the pitchers, mound and the foul line. He jumped and I caught him and I all I could think of was don’t drop this kid.”

Kliniske served Grafton and the surrounding area as an American Legion and youth baseball coach and umpire for 37 years. During Kliniske’s tenure his Legion teams posted a 683-177 win-loss record in 21 seasons. The teams in 2012 and 2013 won 89 games alone. Photo by Larry Stokke/Stokke Photography
Kliniske said that was a most significant moment.

“If I had to point to one thing and say that is what I remember most I guess that would be it – winning that first state tournament.”

Beginning in 1999 Kliniske’s Legion teams qualified for the North Dakota American Legion State Tournament 10 times in a 14-year span. Those teams that won back-to-back titles in 2012-13 featured eight different starters over those two years, explained the quality of play in Grafton at the time. During Kliniske’s tenure he sent 41 players to the collegiate level, while two of his players were named as the North Dakota American Legion Player of the Year. They were John Kingsbury in 2004 and Josh Allmaras in 2002. Allmaras was also named Central Plains American Legion Player of the Year and awarded the Gatorade Leadership Award.

During Kliniske’s tenure his Legion teams posted a 683- 177 win-loss record in 21 seasons. The teams in 2012 and 2013 won 89 games alone.In his nomination form for the Hall of Fame it was noted that Kliniske’s teams were lauded for their discipline, attention to detail and respect for their opponents.
Kliniske served Grafton and the surrounding area as an American Legion and youth baseball umpire whenever needed, for 37 years. During that span he also coached park board Little League and Babe Ruth teams.

Kliniske grew up in Grafton playing sports, but baseball was his love, and, in the summer, he played baseball every chance he could regardless of the age level. “We were always at 8th Street Diamond playing ball,” he said. “Mom would yell out the door from our house on Western Avenue and we could hear her and run home for supper and be out there again.” Kliniske played American Legion Baseball from 1985 to 1988 in Grafton. Playing or coaching he never won a state high school tournament, but back then Grafton was Class A. Eventually they moved into the Class B ranks, where he had a couple of second place state finishes during those 2012-13 years.

Kliniske’s call to inform him he was accepted into the Hall of Fame was kind of auspicious. He received a call from Rodney Kadlec of Park River on Sunday. “After church, my wife (Connie) and I like to play golf. I saw that he called, and I thought he wanted me to ump in the district baseball tournament starting Monday in Park River, but I didn’t want to because it was going to be hot, so I didn’t call him back,” he said.

“My goddaughter is on the baseball board in Park River, and she texted my wife and told her you better have Chad answer that call. So, it was 9:30 at night and I got up to go to bed, it was 25 minutes to 10 and the phone started ringing then he told me I was selected to the Hall of Fame.”

He was awarded the plaque and recognized Tuesday afternoon between games at the district baseball tournament in Park River. Asked what that meant to him Kliniske said validation. “I felt that I was recognized not only for being a good coach but also for all the time put into the program over the years,” he said. Baseball is strong in the northeast corner of the state. The teams in this area are good and a lot of that has been handed down from Midway’s Dennis Horner, to Kliniske and others, these men have set the bar and raised it during their careers.

“To me,” Kliniske said, “It has always been about the program and the players, but I’m not giving the plaque back. I feel genuinely honored to be selected.”