Cherryville Little League Hits Opening Day Out of the Park
By: Grace Smith – Wise News Network
CHERRYVILLE, NC (WNN) – Did you smell the hot dogs on the grill? Did you hear the crowd cheer? Did you feel the crack of the bat? These observations can only mean one thing: Little League Baseball season is upon the City of Cherryville.
On Saturday, April 13, 2024, Little League coaches, families and community members convened at the H.T. White Jr. Little League Park on Guffey Street for the season’s opening ceremonies and inaugural games. Anticipation filled the air as the teams readied themselves to play.
Kids of all ages frolicked around the H.T. White Fields ahead of the ceremonies. The minimum age to join Little League starts at 4 with tee-ball. The oldest kids play in the Major division, which accommodates players aged 9-12.
Little League is a right of passage for many Cherryville residents and the proof is in the attendance to Saturday’s games. Faces glittered on the bleachers as the opening ceremonies kicked off with the speaker, Blake Hallman, vice president for the Cherryville Little League Board.
He initiated the ceremony by reading off each player’s name. He went in order by age, inviting every player and team to join him on the field. The players stood behind Hallman and city officials throughout the ceremony.
Hallman provided a brief history of Little League. It is the world’s largest youth sports program, boasting players from every continent on Earth. 2.6 million children participate annually.
Cherryville has had a Little League program since 1939. Across the age divisions, there are 17 teams. Each team has a corporate sponsor that provides financial support, such as uniforms and equipment fees.
Aside from the team sponsors, individuals or businesses may elect to donate funds through “gold,” “diamond” or other tiers of sponsorship.
“We have sponsors that are very loyal to us. Some of our sponsors have been sponsoring teams since before I played Little League,” said Hallman.
This year, the Little League board secured enough sponsors to waive registration fees for all players.
“We wanted to be able to provide this league for the children of our community free of charge … I challenged everybody [to raise the funds] and they responded in a big way,” said Hallman.
The financial assistance has been a considerable help to many families. Megan is a Little League parent who commends the board for its fundraising efforts. Her son, Maxi, plays for the Lankford Painting team.
“It was awesome for them to do that for all the kids, a lot more kids I see out here this year. They have more teams that they build up that they can play with,” said Megan.
Usually, the registration fee costs $50. According to Curtis Holt, the board’s treasurer, the lack of registration fees resulted in more prospective players signing up. Holt said 170 children registered and 150 entered the program.
“That allowed us to probably add 50 more baseball players, that we otherwise may not have had because it’s free to them,” said Holt.
Also, not only are Cherryville children allowed to play but the League is open to the surrounding counties as well.
“Any children basically north of I-85 and west of Hwy 321 are eligible to play,” said Hallman.
The Little League board has worked tirelessly to ensure a smoothly run season. Chris “Teeter†Parris is the recently elected president of the board. He said that teamwork and tapping into the expertise of senior board members have eased the preparation process.
“Curtis and Blake, you know, they’ve had the experience. I’ve had to lean on them to figure out how this works and how that works,” said Parris.
The common thread of teamwork and community support runs strong within Cherryville’s Little League environment. From the sponsors to the veteran players, Cherryville stands ready to rally behind its young ball players.
An impactful moment that demonstrated the essence of teamwork centered around Chad Cash, the honored guest at the opening ceremonies. Holt introduced Cash with heartfelt words, highlighting his significant influence on the Cherryville Little League program.
“[He’s] just an outstanding volunteer as a coach, as a board member, running things. [He] always did an outstanding job,” said Holt.
He was honored for his constant dedication to Cherryville’s Little League program.
Cash started playing Little League in Cherryville at the age of four. He remained involved throughout his childhood before volunteering as an adult. He has coached, served on the board and been a constant beacon of support for the program. He addressed the players and audience with a speech.
“Today, many of you will start to create memories that will last a lifetime. I was lucky enough to be part of some great high school and Legion teams in the 90s, but to be honest, when I think back on baseball I still have more fond memories of Little League than anything else,” said Cash.
The players are already making those memories. Despite playing on different teams, many of the players are close friends. Kids with the Lankford Painting team practiced pitching with the Medical Center Pharmacy; no competitive animosity, just some fun.
When asked, each player agreed: that having fun is the most important part of Little League.
The players’ enjoyment is just the start of the benefits that Little League offers children. Exposing kids to friendly competition can help them prepare for life beyond childhood.
“It’s not all about balls or strikes, wins, losses. Get the kids out here, learn fundamentals, learn how to deal with adversity, learn how to play on a team and learn how to deal with each other,” said Holt.
After the final balls were pitched, hotdogs devoured and kids hurried into cars after a long day of ball, one sentiment lingered: Little League Baseball in Cherryville is more than just a game. It is a network of support dedicated to uplifting young athletes to try their best.
Sometimes the players will swing and miss, but with the lessons Little League instills, the character within these kids is the real home run.
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