Wichita Falls Spudders display long team history through ceremonial first pitch

WICHITA FALLS, Texas (KAUZ) - The Wichita Falls Spudders showed just how far back their team’s history goes through a special pregame moment on Thursday.

Before the Spudders took the diamond to take on the Weatherford Cutters at Hoskins Field, nine-year-old Kenneth Edward Cluley, great-grandson of former Spudders player Kenneth Reibel Cluley, threw out the first pitch. Not only did he begin the game through a popular ceremonial baseball tradition, but he also did so while wearing his No. 26 Burkburnett Blacksox jersey, the same number his late great-grandfather wore during his career.

Before he took the mound, Kenneth Edward, who also goes by the nickname “Ward,” said he was feeling really excited about the opportunity.

“It’s an honor to share the same name and same number,” Ward said, referring to his great-grandfather, who played for the Spudders in 1954.

“It’s awesome to see him play every Saturday and during the week too, sharing my grandfather’s name and number,” Ward’s father Kenneth Michael Cluley said. “I know my dad is proud. I’m proud. All my dad’s brothers are super proud. And it’s just a lot of fun to watch him carry it on and be such a good little baseball player, just like my grandfather was.”

Even though they’re three generations a part, a name and jersey number aren’t the only two things that Ward has in common with his great-grandfather. He also bats left-handed and throws right-handed, which is what Kenneth Reibel did throughout his career.

“Nobody pushed that or instigated that, but that’s what my dad did,” Ward’s grandfather Joe Cluley said.

Kenneth Reibel primarily played in the outfield during his minor league days. In addition to playing for the Spudders, he also spent two seasons with the San Angelo Colts and of the Longhorn League and one year with the Abilene Blue Sox in the West Texas-New Mexico League. In total, his minor league career spanned seven years.

The ensuing baseball game featured a fast start for Weatherford, as they jumped out to a 7-0 lead. In the end, Wichita Falls fell 11-2.

After playing a two-game road stint against the Waco Woolly Wranglers next week, the Spudders will return home to Hoskins Field on Thursday, July 23 to play the Tyler Knockouts.