Thursday, October 1, 2026
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Cherryville, NC (WNN)- A simple search on Google for the best American Legion baseball teams in North Carolina will return results listing several area teams. Rankings are based upon strong reputations and winning history. The two teams always mentioned near the top of the list are teams with a friendly rivalry going back to 1938, Shelby Post 82 and Cherryville Post 100. Gastonia Post 23 and the Gaston Braves from Posts 144 and 266. Another familiar name associated with top teams in the state is Wayne County Post 11, the defending state champions that lost in the final game of the 2024 Southeastern Regional Tournament to eventual American Legion World Champion Troy, Alabama. Yes, the Old North State has quite a reputation for producing very talented baseball teams.
Currently, the top ten rankings in the state include Shelby at number 2 and Cherryville at number 10. This might have changed slightly since the writing of this article. The Post 100 Junior team is turning heads with their amazing 16-1 season, with one game remaining. They are one of the favorites to win the NC State Jrs Tournament, which will be in Cherryville during the week of July 19th-July 23rd. A tournament they won in 2021. The following week, July 26th -July 30th, a state tournament will be hosted by Cherryville Post 100 at John “Buck” Fraley Field in Cherryville, NC. The eight top teams in the state will battle it out to earn the right to represent NC in the Southeastern Regional Tournament the following week, with that tournament winner heading to the ALWS held in Shelby, NC, in mid-August. Two up-and-coming teams could make some noise in the state tournament if they prove victorious in their area playoffs. Those teams are the team that is ranked third in the state, Asheville Post 70 and Rowan County Post 324. Asheville has been strong since the beginning of the season. Rowan started slowly due to missing players involved in the High School playoffs, yet have been coming on strong late in the season. Due to area division alignments, not all the teams mentioned will be in the state playoffs; however, whichever one earns a spot will have the potential to make a deep run. Regardless of the teams represented, this tournament could be one of the most talented and exciting in years.
Having a rich tradition for being a baseball-crazy town and a reputation for historically successful teams, it is presumed Cherryville will not only be in postseason play but have a shot at doing well in the area, state, region, and possibly the nation. This would lead one to think this has always been the case, but just 45 years ago, it was a completely different story. Cherryville Post 100 baseball was founded in 1937 and had some success by the 1950s. They won their first state title in 1953 after not having previously won an area division. This team set attendance records, reportedly drawing as many as 5500 fans to the old dual-purpose, baseball and football, Cherryville Memorial Stadium. A decade later, each sport would have its own facility. This same 1953 team represented the state of NC in the Little World Series (presently the American Legion World Series) in Miami, Florida. Some not-so-successful teams followed as the next two decades were up and down. In 1962, the local team won an area championship, and 1970 was the last ten-win season for this era. For a few seasons in the 1970s, Cherryville and Lincolnton combined teams and played home games in Cherryville. Still, by the end of the 1977 season, the crowds at Cherryville Memorial Stadium would go quiet, and the field would be empty for the 1978 and 1979 seasons. Two long, hot summers saw no American Legion baseball in Cherryville. What could have been the end turned out to be a timely pause and a major reset.
The Post 100 Relaunch
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“The Wizard” got a huge boost from his efforts when Henry Jones coached the 1980 Cherryville High School team, winning the state baseball championship. That team finished 20-3 using strong pitching, amazing defense, gritty play and timely hits en route to their championship run. The young men Bill thought had special chemistry, yes, they were on this team. Enough fell into place for 1980 to see the return of American Legion baseball to Cherryville. That team began to lay the foundation, and the 1981 and 1982 teams solidified that bedrock on which a true juggernaut would rise. Bill and Aaron continued to work tirelessly in their efforts to upgrade Fraley Field and keep the Post 100 team playing.
The Cherryville High School and American Legion teams enjoyed success not seen in several decades, and the fans were returning to the stadium in droves. The stands were packed, lawn chairs lined the first baseline, and in the mid-1980s, flatbed trailers had to be placed behind the right field wall to hold the overflowing crowds for tournaments. Baseball was not only back. It was quickly becoming the identity of the city. Having been known for Carolina Freight, textile mills, and the New Years Shooters, a new tradition was being rebirthed in this small town, and that was America’s pastime, baseball. Suddenly, baseball was a new social gathering for teens, families, and older fans. The crowds were enthusiastic and electric from excitement that crackled in the air. There was something special happening and the citizens of Cherryville not only knew it but wanted to be a part of it.
Coach Cloninger and SainBill Abernethy knew from his extensive baseball and softball career that successful teams were made up of several key components. That first team of the new era in 1980 already had a pool of very talented players to choose from, yet the right coach would be needed. Abernethy convinced Cherryville native and former major league player and pitching coach Tony Cloninger to take on the reigns of this new team. Cloninger played high school baseball in Denver, NC, and pitched for Post 100 in 1956 and 1957. |
Don Saine
NCHSAA.org
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He would go on to have a long career in MLB for the Braves, Reds, and Cardinals. Later, he became a long-time pitching coach for the New York Yankees and was a part of the Red Sox organization until his death. Tony Cloninger was a great choice for that first team. However, the coach who became the perfect fit the following season was another Cherryville native, Don Saine. He had been enjoying great coaching success in football and baseball at Hunter Huss High School in Gastonia, NC. He took the 1981 and 1982 teams to the state championship games in 1981 and 1982. Winning the title in 1981 and placing as runner-up in 1982.
Tony Cloninger pitching for the Milwaukee Braves.
May 1962 Wikipedia Commons photo from Baseball Digest, public domain
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Tony Cloninger as pitching coach for the New York Yankees.
July 28, 2018, MLB.com
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The 1981 team won the first Area IV championship in 40 years, losing only one regular season game, on their way to winning the state title, and finished the season in Lynchburg, VA, in the Mid-South Regionals. Their season ended in a 1-0 loss to 1981 ALWS runners-up, Richmond, VA. Their record-setting season of 37-6 would stand for 22 years before the 2003 team set a record of 45 wins in a season. The 1982 team would post a record of 34-12, finishing as the runner-up in the state championship. This was the first back-to-back 30-plus win season. The nucleus of those teams was from Cherryville, consisting of Kent Alexander, David Buff, Bobby Dale Reynolds, Rusty Stroupe, Brad Long, Shawn Lauer, and John Warlick. Players from other schools included Tim Mayhew from Burns, Jim Fortenberry from East Lincoln, and Adrian Brewer from Lincolnton. Other Cherryville members included Mel Black, Danny Howell, and Todd Moss. I could not obtain a complete roster from those two teams, and I apologize for not listing every player on those amazing teams.
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The 1981 team possessed a three-headed pitching monster in the form of Adrian Brewer (12-1), John Warlick (9-2), and Kent Alexander (8-0). As if that was not intimidating enough for opposing teams, add Shawn Lauer (2-0) and Jim Fortenberry (2-1). This team was not only blessed with amazing pitching and defense, but they were also formidable at the plate. The leading hitter was Brad Long, slugging at a .477 average, blasting eight home runs, and batting in 60 RBIs. Fortenberry and Brewer also smashed quite a few long balls, and almost every player on this team was a capable batter. In 1982, John Warlick aged out and was now pitching at UNC-Charlotte. Alexander and Brewer were still leading the way on the mound. Kent Alexander posted an 11-3 record, and Adrian Brewer added a record of 8-2. At the plate, this team was hitting the machine. Leading the way were Bobby Dale Reynolds, .393; Kent Alexander, .368; Shawn Lauer, .359; Jim Fortenberry, .354 with 12 home runs; Brad Long, .313, adding 10 home runs; and David Buff, just under .300. All these guys, along with Rusty Stroupe, played amazing lights out, defense. These guys’ performances made Bill Abernethy look prophetic. I’m not sure even he knew what their full potential could be. He had a vision and passion for returning American Legion baseball to Cherryville, but what transpired was much more.
Many will argue that the 1981 team was the most talented roster, top to bottom, in Post 100 history, and strong debate can be made for the 1953, 1982, 1998, and 2003 teams, among others. There are valid points for each, especially when you add notable former players such as Ralph Roberts, Chris Mason, Jay Heafner, and Dalton Pence. There are way too many outstanding players over the 88-year history to list. Each team and player made their marks in different eras under differing rules and formats. It is a wonderful problem to have so many amazing teams and players to be able to agree on the best.
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Ask almost anyone in Cherryville or the surrounding area the first name they think of when they hear the words Cherryville Post 100 baseball, and most will say Bill Abernethy. Others might name one of the countless outstanding players. As American Legion baseball celebrates 100 years this season, it’s arguable that Cherryville would not have been part of the latter 45 years of that milestone without Abernethy and Aaron Moss leading the way. |
Rocky Bennett and Jerry “Fatty” Hudson helped carry on, for many years, what Bill had reborn. I’m sure he would be proud to know that since the new era of Cherryville Post 100 baseball launched in 1980, much success has followed. Teams over the 88-year history have won 22 regular season titles, 18 Area IV titles, seven state championships, five runners-up finishes in the state, and three appearances in the ALWS, with two runners-up finishes (1998 and 2003). The junior team won a state championship in 2021 and so far in 2025 are 16-1. They will host the state tournament in 2025. The 2025 senior team is 16-6 and will host the 2025 state tournament along with the Southeastern and Midsouth Regional tournaments in 2026 and 2027. Post 100 has also hosted regional tournaments twice in the past. Most of this success has been accomplished since its rebirth in 1980.
The 2025 regular season concludes on July 1st. However, plenty of baseball will be played at Fraley Field, with both the Jr. and Sr. teams playing in Area IV playoffs and hosting state tournaments. Former players have gone on to be drafted by MLB teams, to work in MLB organizations, and to become legendary coaches at the High School, Legion, and College levels. As great as those accomplishments are, the American Legion teaches these young men citizenship through sportsmanship. ALB is rich in tradition and differs from other types of youth baseball. Travel, showcase, and perfect game baseball have their place and can be good options for those wishing to display individual talent and skills. American Legion baseball offers a true team concept of play while focusing on community service, youth development, and a strong connection to veterans and the American Legion. This provides a strong blend of competitive amateur baseball for those 19 and under while promoting community involvement and developing character. These additional areas of emphasis make ALB unique, as others generally just stress skill development or showcasing individuals for recruiting purposes. The American Legion and Major League Baseball share a long tradition of involvement with each other. An official partnership does not exist, although MLB has financially supported ALB for 100 years, and most players and numerous coaches have come up through the ALB program. Thankfully, there is something for everyone, and kids can play the game they love.
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