Looking For Low-Cost Fun? A Baseball Festival May Be The Answer
By: Rusty Wise – Wise News Network
Cherryville, NC (WNN) – Summertime is for hotdogs, hamburgers, and baseball. You can find it all in Cherryville, a small town in Western North Carolina. With a rich baseball tradition, Cherryville will proudly host the prestigious 2024 American Legion State Baseball Tournament for senior teams at John L Buck Fraley Field located at 401 E First St. Eight teams, including the esteemed Cherryville Post 100, will participate, showcasing the town’s importance in the baseball community.
The American Legion State Baseball Tournament is not just about the games; it’s a celebration of community. The festivities start with a free concert by the renowned Band of Oz on Thursday, July 18th. This well-known beach band will play all the hits from 6PM to 10PM on Main Street Cherryville. The evening promises many fun activities, including food trucks, beer sales, and bounce houses for the kids, ensuring a delightful time for everyone.ย
On Friday, the 19th, the activities will begin with a Parade of Teams at 5 PM on Main Street in Cherryville. Next, the teams will head towards the NC American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame Banquet at the First Baptist Church in Cherryville. The banquet will start at 6PM, and limited tickets were going to be available at the door for $15 each but is now sold out*. The evening will conclude with a Home Run Derby contest at Fraley Field, located at 401 E First St., beginning at 8PM with free admission.
The games start Saturday, July 20th, at 9:30 AM, with opening ceremonies at 7PM. They will be played through Wednesday, July 24th. According to Jill Puett, past American Legion NC Department President and one of the event organizers, the event theme is “Fans In The Stands.” Food, Drinks, T-shirts, and other souvenirs will be available for cash at the games, and an ATM will be onsite.
When asking Puett why Cherryville was chosen for the tournament for the next two years, “the powers at be said we can get more gate (attendance) in one night than the other days at other past state tournaments.”
Organizing the tournament is both challenging and expensive. According to Puett, hosting the event can exceed $50,000, covering expenses such as rooms, t-shirts, souvenirs, transportation, and meals for all teams. In December 2023, Post 100 announced that the State of NC provided $158,272 to renovate Fraley Field, which included a new batting cage area, fencing, and handrails. A new digital screen scoreboard, funded through private donations, has also been installed. Funds have been raised through various sponsorships, and a campaign has been launched to finance a new covering over the grandstands, which is hoped to be completed by the 2025 state tournament.
Cherryville City Manager Brian Dalton mentioned that the tournament events were a collaboration between the City of Cherryville and Post 100. “I think it benefits American Legion baseball and the City of Cherryville to get people involved and get people active around town, going to the museums, restaurants, and stores…” stated Dalton.
One of the key advantages of the tournament is its central location, making it easily accessible to the Cherryville Downtown Business District, which offers a variety of shops, food, and museums. Even though everything is within walking distance, event organizers have arranged for volunteers with golf carts to shuttle guests from nearby parking lots to the ballpark. And for those looking to cool off between games, the new baseball-themed Cherryville Splash Pad, located just a mile away at 101 S Rudisill Street, is free to enjoy.
The Cherryville Post 100 Team will automatically qualify for the tournament as the host. Post 100 Head Coach Bobby Dale Reynolds recently achieved his 900th career American Legion Baseball win and hopes to secure a few more victories during the tournament.
So, if you or your family want something low-cost to do from July 18th to 24th, look no further than Cherryville, NC, “where life and baseball blossom.”
Want to go?
All 2024 tournament events in Cherryville, NC 28021
Thursday, 7/18 – 6 PM to 10 PM Band of Oz Concert (FREE) – Main Street
Friday, 7/19 – 5 PM Parade of Teams – Main Street
Friday, 7/19 – 6 PM Banquet – First Baptist Church 301 E First St. (Sold Out)*
Friday, 7/19 – 8PM Homerun Derby (FREE) – Fraley Field – 401 E First St.
Saturday, 7/20 – Games 9:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 4 PM, Opening Ceremony/Game 7 PM
Sunday, 7/21 – Games 9:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 4 PM, 7 PM
Monday, 7/22 – Games 1 PM, 4 PM, 7 PM
Tuesday, 7/23 – Games 1 PM, 4 PM, 7 PM
Wednesday, 7/24 – Championship Game 4 PM
Cost: Cash (ATM will be onsite)
Tournament Pass to all games $40 ($125 season pass will be honored)
Pair of Games $10 (First two and final two daily)
Last Game each day $7
Kids with player uniforms can get in FREE with a paying adult!
*Updated 7/13/2024
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