*In 2008 and 2009
there was no East or West Region Tournament. Instead, a State Seeding
Tournament and a State Qualifying Tournament were held. The BGovs played
in
the State Seeding Tournament both years.
**In 2011-2020 there were no Regional, Seeding
or State Qualifying Tournaments. Instead, all teams qualified for the
State Tournament and were seeded based on the final regular season
standings
of a ND Statewide League.
The BGovs entered the State Tournament as
the #1 seed in 2014 and 2015, #2 seed in 2013, 2016, 2019 and 2020, #3 seed in 2011
and 2018, #4 seed in 2012, and #5 seed in 2017.
2020: This
is Coach Skytland’s 17th year as the Head Coach/Manager for the
Governors and seventh year as the coordinator for the 16-19 Year Old
Baseball Program for the Bismarck Parks & Rec. Under Skytland, the Governors won the
North Dakota American Legion Class "AA" State Championship in 2014
and have
been the State Runner-up in 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2016. The BGovs won
the
Judge James A. Wright
Sportsmanship Award in 2005 and 2006.
Coach Skytland was selected to help coach the
Class ‘A’ West Team in the 2008 North Dakota East-West American Legion
Baseball All-Star Classic. Skytland won his 500th game as Head Coach of
the BGovs on July 15, 2019, a 6-0 victory over Grand Forks at Municipal
Ballpark. Prior to
becoming the Head Coach, Skytland was the Bismarck Governor’s assistant
coach for three years.
Before BGovs: Coach Skytland has been a
coach with the Bismarck Parks and Recreation summer baseball program since 1988. During his years with Parks and Recreation,
Skytland has
been involved with Babe Ruth Baseball since 1989 and served as the coordinator
for the 13-15 year-old Babe Ruth Program from 1995-2000. Coach Skytland’s teams that won state championships at the Bambino (1993,
1995);
13-year-old (1993, 1994, 1997); and 14-year-old (1999) levels. His 1995 Bambino and 2000
15-year-old teams both won the Midwest Plains Regional Championship and placed
fifth at the Babe Ruth World Series.
Off the field:
Coach Skytland just completed his 19th year as a teacher at Bismarck
High School, he teaches Economics, US History, and Native American
Studies. Coach Skytland also
serves as an assistant boy’s basketball coach. Previously, he taught six
years at St. Mary’s Grade School. Coach Skytland was the University of
Mary’s Head Men’s Tennis Coach from 1993-2008 and also served as the
Head Women’s Tennis Coach from 2001-2008.
In addition to his teaching and coaching
responsibilities, you will see Skytland on the sidelines working on the
"Chain Gang" at several Bismarck Public Schools varsity football games.
Did you know?
Coach Skytland was a NJCAA Academic All-American in men's basketball at
Bismarck State College and a two-time NAIA Academic All-American in
men's tennis at the University of Mary.