Son of fallen Smyth County deputy throws first pitch at Salem Red Sox game

SALEM, Va. (WFXR) — It was more than just a baseball game Friday night at the Salem Memorial Ballpark. The first pitch was thrown by the son of fallen Smyth County deputy Hunter Reedy, who was shot and killed in the line of duty earlier in August .

The Salem Red Sox honored Reedy’s life by having his son, Brandon, throw out the first pitch at Friday’s game. Family and friends gathered around the mound to watch in shirts with his badge number on it: 360.

“Reedy is a big teddy bear. He’s a 6’6 300-pound guy, with a pretty good beard,” said Sgt. Landon Smith, Hunter Reedy’s friend and supervisor. “But if you got to know him and a kid was around, he made friends with that kid first thing. He really found his stride when he got involved in community policing. He saw those kids and they knew him by name, called him by name. They’re going to miss him as much as anybody.”

One child, who never knew Reedy, honored him at the game as well. Kordelia’s Lemonade Stand, a non-profit run by a 13-year-old girl from Glouster, raised more than $300 to buy Reedy’s family and friends gift cards and toys.

“It’s hard being a first responder because I’ve heard stories about what they’ve been through and what they’ve seen,” said Kordelia Coyne, who created her non-profit at 9 years old. “I just want to remind them that they’re loved and people do care still.”

After the ceremonial first pitch, the Salem Red Sox gave the Reedy family a bat signed by the team. Smith said they’ve taken this experience as a sign from Reedy to gather their families and focus their minds on something positive

“To know Hunter, he would be telling us that we need to move forward, we need to get up and go on, go out and do things with our family,” said Smith. “He was very family-oriented. He loved his wife and he loved his kids.”

Smith said he was grateful for the support from the Aware Foundation and the Salem Red Sox, but also to other law enforcement officers who showed up and those who have continued to show support to the Reedy family

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