Russ Nyvall Field
The Ballfield is Open 7 Days a Week
Ballfield Hours: 6AM - 10PM
This beautiful facility is located just outside the City limits at 5521 County Road 125 NE. Travel north on County Road 125, just off Highway 5 and west of Longville.
The ballfield is maintained by the Longville City Maintenance Department with help from volunteers in the community and the greater Longville area. The field is open for public use, except during league play.
The stone monument dedication reads: This ballfield is dedicated in the memory of Russ [Nyvall], the man who was the most instrumental in organizing youth baseball in the Longville area for many years. His dedication to the game, both coaching and playing, will be long remembered by his players, family, and friends.
"Two hands while you're learning."
A Brief History of Baseball in Longville
George Englehart organized the first baseball team in Longville in the early 1900s during the logging boom era, and baseball quickly became part of Longville's strong tradition of community recreation and gathering.
Florence Nyvall was a prominent community leader involved in civic improvements, helping to establish the Longville Welfare Society that would eventually come to be known as the Riverside Cemetery Association in the late 1920's (Click Here to Learn More About the Riverside Cemetery). Her son, Russell "Russ" Nyvall, carried on his family's tradition of community service through baseball.
From 1946-1950 Russ was the local baseball star in Longville. He was pitcher, first baseman, and catcher for the Longville team. They say out of town teams drafted him to play for them at tournament times, because every time Russ would hit the ball, it would go so far into the woods they’d never find it.
After pitching 19 innings and ruining his arm, Russ retired from baseball and diverted his energy to coaching little league for 12 years.
The Origins of Turtle Racing in Longville
Did you know? Russ Nyvall is also credited with introducing the Longville Turtle Races back in 1967 after he and several of the local men in town originally tossed around the concept.
Russ noticed that the kids visiting Longville with their families had nothing to do, so he borrowed an idea he had heard about and adapted it to Main Street. Now a longstanding tradition for over 50 years, the Turtle Races in Longville provide a great family activity for vacationing guests in and around the area.
Over the years the races have become so important that a resolution was passed in 1989 by the Minnesota House of Representatives declaring Longville, Minnesota the Turtle Racing Capital of the World!
For more information about the Turtle Races and Turtle Fest, including Race Schedules and Turtle Laws, please contact the Longville Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce or check out their website by clicking the link.
Youth T-Ball League
The Longville T-Ball League meets for summer practice from the beginning of June until the middle of July, every Tuesday evening from 6PM-7PM at Russ Nyvall Field. The End-of-Season Family Picnic is traditionally held the week after team play finishes for the year.
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Boys and girls ages four (4) through six (6) are welcome to join.
(Slightly older or younger is OK too!) -
Sign ups are $25 per child or $40 per family.
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Plan to bring your own glove, batting helmet, water bottle, and tennis shoes.
Shirts and hats are purchased for the team using sign up fees and generous donations from local businesses, like Ace Hardware, First National Bank, and The One Stop.
For more information about joining the team, please check out the team's Facebook Page. And if you would like to learn more about becoming a team sponsor, please reach out directly to the youth league administrator.
Team Admin | Joe Johnson | (218) 766-9158 |
Men's Softball League
Team Coach | Triston Kinnison | (218) 398-7000 |
Team Admin | Zach Nornberg | (218) 398-7314 |
The Longville Men's Softball Team is part of the Pine River League. They meet for summer practice at Russ Nyvall Field every Friday night at 6PM, May through August.
The league is free to join, but please plan to bring your own water bottle and a pair of shoes. Softballs, bats, gloves, and jerseys are provided for the Longville team free of charge through donations from generous sponsors:
For more information about joining the team, or if you would like to learn more about becoming a team sponsor, please reach out directly to one of the men's league administrators.