Liberty Classic Banquet Celebrates Baseball Heroes, Honors Reich '93

A Banquet was one of several events highlighting a late February three game series between Air Force and West Point at The Depot in Texas. Although Cleburne’s baseball stadium has seen other college play, this marked the first year of service academy play and Cleburne Railroaders’ President John Junker said he hopes to see more of in future years. The series also served to honor Cleburne High School graduate Nick Duran who played baseball while at the Air Force Academy. Duran died in a 2021 airplane crash. Also honored was former West Point graduate and baseball player Stephen Reich '93, who was killed in action in 2005 while on a rescue mission while serving in the Army in Afghanistan. “I had the privilege of serving under Stephen as my commanding officer and I was his platoon leader,” said Matt Brady '99 who served with Reich. “I think of him being on that helicopter knowing the uncertainty of the situation and him knowing he might be leading his men on what may be a one-way mission. But it was their duty to try to rescue Navy Seals fighting for their lives. Duty was a real world that day, a real word you cadets are going to have to think about every day of your Army or Air Force careers." Reich's teammate second baseman Rico Banez '93 threw out the first pitch of the game with classmate Reyno Arredondo '93 catching. Read more.