Every summer, there is a baseball team that comes into the town of Purcellville to play in front of the people of the town. The team that fires into town every summer is the Purcellville Cannons. The Cannons are a non-profit organization, which is sanctioned by the NCAA and supported by Major League Baseball (MLB).
Last season, the Purcellville Cannons went 20-24. That was enough to finish in ninth place in the North Division. However, the season prior to that one, they finished in third place with a record of 19-21. The Purcellville Cannons show promise every season with their electric young talent that comes in.
Senior Faith Solano, who is a big part of the Cannons, is one of their top fans. She and her family have been fans of the team for many years, and, during the summer, they even house some of the players that play for the Cannons. “The players are definitely the main reason the team is good, but it’s ultimately the fans and the crowd that keep them going and hyped to win. Especially against our rivals the Winchester Royals,” Solano shares.
The Purcellville Cannons acquire their players from colleges and from overseas. These players get a phenomenal opportunity to show off their talent in the minor league club. With the MLB and NCAA having a big part in the league, this is a great way to shine some light on these players to see if there is a diamond in the rough. Overall, the Cannons’ games are exciting to watch with the people in Purcellville being only about ten minutes away from watching young professionals play.
One of the many players that the Cannons have is William Ricketts. He is a left-handed pitcher for the Cannons who is 5’10 and 220 pounds. Ricketts throws a lot of breaking balls and does not have a fast fastball. He is known for his slow velocity and dirty pitches, which result in increased strike outs. He has become a crowd favorite. His unique pitching style has given him an infamous nickname among fans and the Cannons organization.
Along with the nicknames that the community gives to the players, there is still more to the Cannons than meets the eye. “There’s a lot of players from all over the country and world who come just to play in our small town. Another interesting fact is that many don’t know that the Cannons were originally named the Luray Wranglers at one point,” Solano states.
The Cannons are full of surprises every year. More excitement comes from the in-between inning games they have for the kids and the fun songs they play. These Cannons games are electric when the people attend. Fireman’s Field is home to the Cannons and is located in Purcellville. This year, they play 20 home games with the first home game on Friday, May 31, 2024.