Cherryville Post 100 receives funding for improvements to John L. Fraley Field

Chloe Collins, Gaston Gazette
·2 min read
Jill Parker Puett talks at the American Legion on Pink Street in Cherryville Thursday morning, Dec. 7, 2023, during funding event for Fraley Field and the city of Cheryville.
Jill Parker Puett talks at the American Legion on Pink Street in Cherryville Thursday morning, Dec. 7, 2023, during funding event for Fraley Field and the city of Cheryville.

Cherryville Post 100 of the American Legion was formally awarded more than $100,000 Thursday, Dec. 7.

North Carolina House Representative Kelly Hastings, House Speaker Tim Moore and Gaston County Senator Brad Overcash attended the ceremony where Post 100 was awarded $158,272 toward renovations to John L. Fraley Field thanks Gaston County representatives and the American Legion Department of North Carolina.

Officials from Post 100 say the funds will be instrumental to the city.

According to Jerry Hudson, a member of Cherryville Post 100 and the Area Four Baseball Commissioner for the American Legion, Post 100 hosted the American Legion Baseball League tournament in both 2019 and 2020.

“In ‘21 and ‘22, Campbell University did it,” Hudson said.

However, in coming years, Post 100 will once again host the tournaments.

“The Department of the American Legion, they awarded Cherryville Post 100 the tournament for 2024 and 2025.”

Hudson said Cherryville is well known for its baseball teams, and believes that the city’s enthusiasm is part of the reason they were chosen for coming tournaments.

“Mainly Cherryville was picked because, the American Legion, they want fans in the stands,” Hudson said in a sing-song voice. “We kinda came up with the slogan, ‘fans in the stands.’”

In order to be able to continue hosting tournaments, they needed to make some upgrades to Fraley Field.

“Gaston County Schools, they own the ballfield,” Hudson said. “But all the work, the majority of it has been done by the American Legion.”

So far, renovations to the field will include a new scoreboard, covered batting cages, updates to the press box, new padded fencing, railing for the bleachers, and more.

Some updates have already been completed.

A new scoreboard was donated by Patrick O’Leary, an investor in Cherryville.

All remaining updates will be completed by Jan. 30, according to Hudson.

Post 100 has invested $400,000 in the renovations, raising money from personal donations, selling advertising spots on the ballfield’s new fence, and accepting the $158,272 from the American Legion Department of North Carolina.

Hudson says the investments will not only benefit the city of Cherryville, but also surrounding cities and counties.

There are no hotels in Cherryville, so players will likely stay in rooms located in Gastonia and visit shops and restaurants around the county during their stay, he said.

The event is expected to bring thousands of baseball fans to Gaston County, according to Hudson.

The tournament will take place mid-July, and will begin with a kick-off event on July 18 including vendors and a celebration.

Games formally begin Saturday, July 20, and Post 100 is working to make sure game passes are affordable, Hudson said.

“We just hope everybody comes to the ballgames,” he added.

A big check for the Cherryville American Legion Post 100 Baseball at the American Legion on Pink Street in Cherryville Thursday morning, Dec. 7, 2023, during funding event for Fraley Field.
A big check for the Cherryville American Legion Post 100 Baseball at the American Legion on Pink Street in Cherryville Thursday morning, Dec. 7, 2023, during funding event for Fraley Field.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Cherryville Post 100 receives funding for John L. Fraley Field