CBA's 1974 team was one big 'family'

By Allen Etzler
Published in Sports on April 14, 2014 1:50 PM

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PIKEVILLE -- Forty years ago, Charles B. Aycock baseball coach "Bud" King trotted out to the mound with no clue what he was going to do.

His team was in trouble with one out against Jamestown Ragsdale in the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3-A state championship game.

King wanted to change pitchers, but didn't know who to put in. He looked back to the dugout for direction from athletic director Dave Thomas, who just shrugged his shoulders.

Parker Davis made the decision for King. He asked for the ball and got the final two outs, capping the Golden Falcons' 19-game win streak after a 3-5 start to that memorable 1974 season.

Fans who attended the game roared with laughter as King retold the memorable run Friday evening in the new gym at C.B. Aycock. The former players and their families gathered for a reception to reminisce about that season and share stories that some of their teammates may have forgotten about.

Later that evening, the 1974 team stepped onto the Charles Davis Field diamond moments before the Golden Falcons' faced juggernaut J.H. Rose. Each player received a plaque commemorating the 1974 championship season from members of the current CBA team.

It was a special moment for all, but perhaps none more special than for Tommy Herndon. His son, Trent, presented the plaque to his dad.

"It was a moment that is hard to put into words because you never expect something like that to happen," Tommy Herndon said. "It's very rewarding to know that maybe you instilled the things that were instilled you."

And though, after high school the members of that 1974 team may have drifted apart, when they came back for the 40th year anniversary celebration Friday it was as if no one ever left. They stood on the third-base line for the national anthem and some headed toward the stands when it concluded.

Others stood outside the gate and walked off the field, talking with each other as they caught with up their "baseball family."

They told a story about pitchers in Little League pulling a potato out of their back pocket and throwing it to home plate instead of the ball. They talked about Gary Davis, the team jokester who did Cheech & Chong impressions on the bus during road games.

The 1974 team was a "family" and had an uncanny chemistry on the field.

"Chemistry is the single most important, least talked about thing a team can have," Tommy Herndon said.

Noah West and Garrett Joyner have used those same words to describe this year's team. They're working to harness those same traits synonymous with the 1974 team that made a miraculous run to the state championship.

The Herndon family has two state champs -- dad Tommy and daughter Reagan, who played outfield on Aycock's 2012 state 3-A championship team. Trent hasn't given up hope.

Regardless of this season's outcome, Tommy hopes his son takes away what he took away from the 1974 team -- friendship and family.

"The value of friendship," Tommy Herndon said. "Don't take friendship for granted. He's got a good group of guys he's playing with on this team. I want him to cherish these moments that he's got."