2024 NC Legion Baseball Hall of Fame Held With State Tournament
By: Rusty Wise – Wise News Network
Cherryville, NC (WNN) – It was a packed audience for the 2024 NC American Legion Baseball Hall Of Fame Banquet held in Cherryville on Friday, July 19th, 2024, at 6 PM. What made this one special was the attendance by all the American Legion State Baseball Senior Boy’s Teams in the state finals held in Cherryville this past week.ย
Hundreds filled the First Baptist Church Christian Outreach Center next to Buck Fraley Field. One for the record books was serving everyone in attendance in approximately eight minutes. The meal consisted of “Cherryville BBQ” prepared by Heath Jackson and crew with all the trimmings, including slaw, baked beans, chips, and desserts. The slaw is a mayonnaise-based white slaw, which is another legendary Cherryville story in itself.ย
The night started with Dr. Vince Hefner’s prayer, followed by a lone table and chair display honoring POW/MIA veterans. Darin and Brooke Aldridge also sang a memorable rendition of the National Anthem.
Cherryville City Manager Brian Dalton and Mayor Pro-Tem Jill Puett gave welcoming speeches, welcoming all in attendance from the City of Cherryville, NC. “On behalf of the City of Cherryville, we welcome everyone here for the state tournament,” stated Dalton. Puett recognized NC Senator Ted Alexander and NC Representative Kelly Hastings for their help obtaining state funding for the Fraley Field improvements to help host the tournament. Puett stated, “Both were instrumental in helping us receive the funding needed to improve that field.”
Cherryville Post 100 Athletic Officer Ned Yates emceed the night, and NC Hall of Fame Vice Chairman John Duvall introduced the inductees. NC American Legion dignitaries were also recognized, including current Judge and Advocate General Gaither M. Kenner, Jr., Department Historian Bill Richards, past Department Commander Jim Quinlan, and Department Adjutant Mark Cauble.
Six inductees were named at the event: Walker Allen, Seth Atwell Graham, Jay Heafner, Richard Keener (Posthumous), Marshall Ramsey (Posthumous), and Bradley Snider.
Past Cherryville Post 100 Player and current Texas Rangers Scout Jay Heafner spoke about his memories of playing, saying, “It (Cherryville) is a very baseball-intelligent town and makes you feel really included, really important when you’re playing for the team, and really like you’re playing for the town.”
Highlights Video:
Following the banquet at 8 PM was supposed to be the Homerun Derby held at Buck Fraley Field; however, drizzling rain was present, and heavy rain was forecasted, so the Derby did not occur.
Note: The Full Video of the 2024 NC American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame Banquet will be released later at: https://www.youtube.com/@wisenewsnetwork.
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