The Cherokee Indians were founded by Keith Pruitt in the Spring of 1994 and competed in the North Metro Atlanta MSBL from 1994-1996. From 1994-1996 the Indians won 44 games while only losing 8. Keith won 8 of the Indians 15 regular season games in 94 and went 3-0 in playoffs. The Indians captured the Championship in their first year in existence. Keith took home the team`s MVP. The Indians 2-3-4 hitters Don Pike, Bobby Bolak and Jim Hess combined for 13 Hrs 41 RBI`s and .443 batting average.
The Indians captured the championship again in 1995, with Jim Hess taking home the team MVP award with 7 HR`s 22 RBI`s and a .445 BA . Bobby Bolak won 6 games in 95 while saving 6 and posting a 1.37 ERA.
The Indians won their third championship in a row in 96 Bob Bolak took home the team MVP award batting .467 and driving in 27 runs. Jim Hess lead the team in HRs.
In the Fall of 1996 after the Summer Olympics Don Pike & Steve Rosenburg founded the MSBL Fall League. The league consisted of 8 teams which included the Atlanta Reds managed by Don with Steve pitching in the MSBL for the first time. In Steve`s first outing, Don unknowingly caught 2/3 of an inning without wearing a chest protector.
Which lead to one of Steve classic quotes "OK Don, I know I`m not breaking 50 MPH, doesn`t mean you can go without chest protection" - Steve Rosenburg
Dennis Jones took over the team in 1997 after Keith Pruitt retired. The Indians faced better competion in the MSBL and failed to make the finals for the first time . They did manage a winning season (10-8)
In 1998, Don Pike took over as manager. The Indians changed their team name to the Cobra`s and they were snake bit. Posting a dismal 8-10 due to Bob Bolak playing part time, an injured Jim Hess, the Cobra`s lost in the first round of playoffs to the Bandits (Marietta Mets).
In 1999, Greg Beckman won $5000.00 at the Cherokee Casino`s. He offered to pay for team jerseys if we change the team name to the Yankees. The changing of the team name didn`t help, the Yankees posted 5- 13 and missed the playoffs for the first time in 7 years. Several key players decided to hang it up after the 98 season which left the team in a bad spot.
In 2000, The team started to to turn around while only posting 9-9 record, they managed to sweep the Bandits in the first round of playoffs only to lose to the Mudcat`s in 3 in Semi finals. The Reds participated in their first Memorial Day Weekend tourney in 2000. After going 3-0 they lost in the Semi Finals to the Atlanta Crackers. John Pelles managed the tourney team to the 3-1 record. The recruiting for the tourney team lead to the pick of three future key players Steve Bohn, Pat Conreaux and Dave Moore.
In 2001, The team decided to stick with the fall team name Atlanta Reds, with the addition of Bohn,Conreaux, Moore, and Ron Levesque, the team was competitive once again.
In 2005, The 28+ Reds partnered with the 18+ White Sox and became the second two team franchise, Rick Stockfields and his Cherokees being the first to pull off the two team system. The 28+ Reds managed by Don Pike while the 18+ White Sox were managed by Mike Cooney. The White Sox was one of the premiere teams in Atlanta before losing several key players to the Astros. The White Sox changed the team name from the Diablos to the White Sox before moving up from the 30+ to the 18+ in 1999. The White Sox hold the local MSBL Record of 52 straight wins. Players to play with both teams in 2005 were Mike Cooney Don Pike Jeff Travis Pat Conreaux and Matt Freeman.
In 2006, the team name was changed to the Gamecocks and was managed by Bo Counts and Don Pike.
In 2007, the team name was changed to the Midweek Reds and moved to the new midweek wood bat league where it remained until shutting down in 2013.
In 2014, after a 19 year drought, The Reds finally won a Summer League Championship after defeating the 3 time defending champs Team Mizuno 2 games to 1.
GEORGIA ADULT BASEBALL
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