Editorial - August 2003

Post 100 nearly makes history

Published August 27, 2003

The little town of Cherryville on Tuesday narrowly lost a big claim to fame — the national championship of American Legion baseball. Cherryville’s Post 100 lost to Rochester, Minn.  5-2 Tuesday in Bartlesville, Okla. in the final playoff.

If sheer fan support and high expectations could fuel a victory, this team would have walked all over their opponent. Post 100 had their loyal contingent of supporters with them in Oklahoma, and a home town audience listening to the radio broadcast Tuesday night at Fraley Stadium. They will get a warm reception in Cherryville today when they return home around 2 p.m..

Post 100 came close, and changed the record book for a tournament that goes back some 80 years. Pitcher Chris Mason set a new strikeout record, and the Cherryville team scored the most home runs in a single game. They might have had the edge they needed if star shortstop Jay Heafner had played, but he was on crutches, having dislocated a bone in his foot in a collision with left fielder Shane Summer in Monday’s semifinal game.

The members of this team can come home with their heads up. After all, they are the No. 2 American Legion team in the nation.

This quest for national stardom is not as surprising as it sounds. Cherryville has a long tradition of outstanding legion baseball and played in the national championship game just five years ago in Las Vegas, losing to Edwardsville, Ill, 9-4.

Congratulations to this outstanding team of athletes, a group  affectionately called a “family” by their Cherryville supporters, and to their coach, Bobby Reynolds.

This effort won’t show a championship, but it will be remembered  forever in the scrapbooks and hearts of the Post 100 players, their families and supporters.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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