Page:Brunswick 100 Years of Memories.pdf/189

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every game with his great fast ball and curve. Lee

"Babo" Merriman was manager. There was a Heart of Maryland League with Knoxville and Brunswick for six or seven years in the 1960.s' · Adult baseball returned in 1990 as a local team called the Brunswick Orioles not only competed in the Blue Ridge League, but won the play-offs to take the championsh ip in its first year of participation. Other cities represented in the 6-tearn league are Lovettsville, Neersville, and Winchester , Virginia, Charles Town and Martinsburg , West Virginia. The Brunswick Orioles play their home games at the BHS field. S - Amos Kaplon tape. W-MMM

LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBAL L The World Series of 1986 was the high point of Little League in Brunswick, after 33 years of involvement. This league began in Brunswick in 1954, one year ahead of Babe Ruth League. Some early coaches and managers were Marvin Younkins, Dutch Rau, Lee Merriman, George Merriman and "Doc" Forney. Clyde "Red" Hawes set a record, having managed and/or coached in Little League for 25 years before retiring. George Raymond Albert was the League's first president. Emory Frye was the second, then Shelly Dawson, Richard Goodrich, Melvin Taylor, Wesley Rice, and Roy Moore. Emory V. Frye served as Little League District II Administra tor for 20 years. Brunswick Little League went to the World Series in Williamsport, Pa., in 1986 after winning the District II championsh ip, Section I, Maryland State, and the Eastern Regional flags and the right to represent the east in the LL World Series. One of four teams from the entire United States, members of that Brunswick World Series All-Star team were Jeff Cox, Matt Dorner, Jason Frushour, Scotty Frye, Milt Gue, Joey Lucas, Kenny McLain, Mark Myers, Jeff Nuse, Jeff Oden, Chad Riland, Pat Smith, Chad Sowers, and Troy Taylor. Manager was Robert Dawson, Jr., and coach, Kenny McClain. No other District II or Frederick County team had made it to the World Series playoffs. Paul Orrison had managed Brunswick Little League into its first two state championsh ips in 1966, when Brunswick went to its first Eastern Regional playoff, and again in 1969. The 1981 State Champions hip was managed by the late Ernie Bitler and the 1984 State Champion-

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ship, by Poppy Lewis. Richard Goodrich started Tee Ball for the sixand seven-year-olds. W-MMM

MARVA BABE RUTH BASEBAL L On March 29, 1955, the Marva Babe Ruth League organizatio nal meeting was held at the Moose Hall. Citizens of Lovettsville, Virginia, and Burkittsville, Point of Rocks, and Brunswick, Maryland, were involved at first, but eventually the 13 to 15-year olds were from Frederick and Washington Counties. (The name Marva had come from the two states participatin g. After Virginia was no longer involved, the league retained the name because of its nice sound for a Babe Ruth league.) Brunswick had three of the teams, The Eagles, People's Horne and Auto (later Furnishers), and The Moose. Leading batter award in 1955 went to Ronnie Weddle of People's team with a .638 average for the season; best pitching record went to Dave Shewbridge. Most popular player plaque went to Ronnie Gilbert. In 1961 Marva won its first State championsh ip in all-star competition . Marva dominated the State title throughout the 60's winning state flags 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1967, and 1968. In the 1965 and 1968 competition Marva went to Regional championship before being eliminated. In 1967 three 13year olds started on the state title team: Joey Himes, Mitch Deener, and P. L. Orrison. Another State championsh ip came in the 13-15 year-old division in 1975. A prep league was initiated in Babe Ruth in 1979 to give 13-year olds experience with their own age group on a major league-size field before playing with the 14 and 15 year-olds. In 1985 Marva'~ Prep league won district and state titles, then finished second to Port Chester, New York, in regional finals. In 1987, the Marva prep 13-year old All Stars won the District, State, and Regional play-offs to become the only Marva team to advance to World Series play. They won ten straight times in All-Star cornpe.., tition to earn the right to p1ay in the World Series in Lebanon, Missouri. They won one game 9 to 3, but lost two games by only one run each game, thus were eliminated. Players were Gil Ohler, Troy Taylor, Mark Myers, Jason Lucas, Brian Pottieger, Kevin Madara, Brad