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After doing some thinking, I may not have given East Rutherford and Bobby Reynolds the credit they deserved. So, here is some rambling to go along with what could be an apology letter of some sorts.
The East Rutherford baseball championship was just meant to be. It still surprises me that East Rutherford wins all their playoffs games on the road to claim their sixth 2A title. After losing to county foe R-S Central for the second time, they lost just once and that was in Game 2 of the championship series.
Congrats to all the Cavaliers!!! Holden Greene, Kendall McGowan, Daiquan Davenport, Reece Oliver, Gehrig Christopher, Matt Miller, Kaleb Greene, Cameron Simmons, Ethan Stewart, Adam Barnette, Nick Strickland, etc.
Considering how they were destroyed by a solid Kings Mountain team in April, some people wrote off the Cavs. I probably was one of them. So, I am sorry that I was such an idiot.
Former player, Zeke Blanton just passed away, the Cavs definitely played with heavy hearts.
Blanton, who hit .750 in the playoffs during his 2007 senior season played on perhaps the best high school baseball team this county has ever seen. Blanton is tied with the most runs scored in a season, third in career hits and fifth all-time in career doubles according to the NCHSAA record book.
Nonetheless, East Rutherford has been runner up on three different occasions. In 2008, they had to beat Owen and Hibriten on the road. In the Owen game on a damp and chilly night, it was the heroics of Seth Arrowood. Arrowood crushed a pitch to left field. The ball was a good 10-15 feet foul, but luckily some Black Mountain wind pushed the ball back into play. The shot went onto be a grand slam that was barely inside the foul pole and it opened the flood gates. "I have never seen that before," Reynolds said after the game. "I may never see that again."
In 2008, that was one of the years in which East finished second. Realistically, East and Bobby could have nine titles by now. And think about all those he has coached. Chad Flack, who owns about every school baseball record. Cullen Park, Marcus Covington, Dakotah Thomas, Seth Baldwin, Michael Milam, Drew Reynolds, Derek Deaton, Tyler Jacobus, Ryan Leach, Ethan Stewart and of course Zeke Blanton. That list maybe scratches the surface of what kind of talent the Cavs have produced over the years.
Last year, I asked Reynolds what made him so passionate about baseball. For once, I got to see a side to Bobby that many don't get to hear from. This tough, rugged guy from Cherryville understood exactly what I was asking him. His demeanor changed, he was probably the most humble and sincere I had ever seen him.
There are rumors flying around about Bobby being done at East Rutherford after the sixth championship. All I can tell you, it's a rumor. Nothing more, nothing less. I am sure the school will give him ample time to figure out what is best for himself and I have enough respect to allow that to happen as well. I don't exactly see him leaving, but I would understand if it happened.
Regardless, East Rutherford and Bobby Reynolds have established themselves among the state's best programs in baseball. I can only find that Cherryville (8) and Whiteville (7) have more baseball titles as a school.
