1960 All-Star Team

Top row from left:  Ricky Stair, Paul Barker, Bobby Knight, Paul Fowler, Butch Dixon

Middle row from left:  Bobby Axline, Drew Orye, Calvin Lawson, Alan Everhart, Mike Cooper

Bottom row from left: Manager Billy Merriman, Larry Springs, Mark Donovan, George Holder, Coach Clyde "Red" Hawes,

1960, the 1st District title

While Frederick's National League had been the most successful District team in All-Star play during the 1950's, the 1960's belonged to Brunswick. And in fact, the top of the 60's was the beginning of an era which to this very day has the Brunswick league owning a reputation as one of the toughest leagues in District All-Star play.

DISTRICTS 

BRUNSWICK 7  FREDERICK NATIONAL 0 

Butch Dixon pitched a no-hitter as the Railroaders opened 1960 District action with a 7-0 blanking of Frederick National. Frederick American was also getting a fine pitched game as their Benny Grove limited Sykesville to 4 hits in a 3-2 American win. 

BRUNSWICK 5  THURMONT 1 

Next Brunswick defeated Thurmont 5 to 1 behind Ricky Stair's pitching and home run. Frederick American hammered Emmitsburg 21-3. 

BRUNSWICK 3  FREDERICK AMERICAN 2 

Brunswick and Frederick American then met at Frederick's Baker Park for the District championship in a game that drew 1,500 screaming fans. The fiery Dixon hit a clutch two-run home run in the sixth inning to tie the game and Buck Fauble scored the game's winning run on a passed ball in the seventh. This was the famous game where the American coaches forced the umpires to require Dixon to remove a large belt buckle he was wearing. After Dixon very reluctantly removed the buckle he was more determined than ever to bring the first District championship to Brunswick, and displayed such with a competitiveness and toughness that few twelve year olds could ever match.  

SECTIONAL 

MARTINSBURG 2  BRUNSWICK 1 

After capturing the Districts for the first time, Brunswick was pitted against Martinsburg for what was called the Western Maryland championship. In a close game Martinsburg got a sixth inning homer to lift the West Virginia nine to a 2 to 1 win. Brunswick's lone hit in the contest came from the bat of Lovettsville's Michael Cooper.

Billy Merriman managed Brunswick's 1960 District flag bearers. Clyde "Red" Hawes was the coach. The Martinsburg pitcher was Junior Smallwood, who later on pitched in the major league's with the Washington Senators.   

Maryland State Tournament 
Host - Hagerstown American (District 1)
At Hager Field

NOTE: District 5 elected not to participate in the international tournament in 1960.

Tournament Results:

Quarterfinal Round:
Brooklyn-Curtis Bay d. Hamilton

Semifinal Round:
Martinsburg (West Virginia) 2, Brunswick Railroaders 1
Brooklyn-Curtis Bay 9, East Salisbury 4

Championship Game:
Brooklyn-Curtis Bay 12, Martinsburg (West Virginia) 1 (TITLE)

1961, BRLL repeats as District champ

The 1961 BRLL All-Star team was managed by Gene Green and coached by Bobby Dawson. The Brunswick All-Star players are: BEARS - Paul Fowler, Larry Green, Tommy Lake and Richard Longerbeam. CUBS - Bobby Axline, Gary Carter (11), Robbie Dawson (11), David Hickman (11), and Charlie Smith. LIONS - Paul Barker, George Holder and Jackie Merriman. TIGERS - Arthur Harding (11) and Steve Spurrier (11).

For the second year in a row Brunswick won the District championship. In 1960 the Railroader League did not advance to the State tournament because of the requirement of playing Martinsburg for the Western Maryland title. We can't explain how Martinsburg figured in the Western Maryland flag, but they did!

DISTRICTS 

BRUNSWICK 6  WESTMINSTER 0 

Brunswick opened the 61 District II play with a 6-0 triumph over Westminster. Paul Barker liminted the Carroll County team to 3 hits, striking out 11 and walking 5. David Hickman had a pair of doubles and Robbie Dawson and George Holder had two singles each in a game played over two days because of rain. 

BRUNSWICK 13  EMMITSBURG 2 

In the second round, Brunswick rolled over Emmitsburg 13-2. In Frederick a real shocker was taking place as the American League was beating the National League for the first time in All-Star play. The younger league beat the Nationals 2-1 on a Jeff Freland two-hitter. The City team then proceeded to knock off Thurmont 13-5.

BRUNSWICK 4  FREDERICK AMERICAN 0 

For the second year in a row Brunswick and Frederick American met for the District crown. The game was billed as a chance for the fans to see the District's supposedly unbeatable and best pitcher, Americans Freland...but Brunswick's Paul Barker upstaged Freland by hurling Brunswick to a 4-0 shutoutwin and the District flag. Frederick managed but one hit off the always underrated Barker.

STATES 

WILLIAMSPORT 12  BRUNSWICK 6 

The win advanced Brunswick to the State playoffs. After taking an early 6-2 lead over Williamsport, the local team's defensive lapses allowed the Washington County team to come back with 6 fourth inning runs and go on to eliminate Brunswick 12 to 6.

Maryland State Tournament 
Championship Game Host - Leakin Park (Baltimore) (District 3)
At Leakin Park

NOTE: Quarterfinal and semifinal round games were held at district sites throughout the state.

Tournament Results:

Quarterfinal Round:
Conococheague 12, Brunswick Railroaders 6
Brooklyn Park 5, Hamilton 3

Semifinal Round:
Conococheague 4, Brooklyn Park 2
Cambridge 24, North East 3

Championship Game:
Conococheague 1, Cambridge 0 (TITLE)

1961 All-Star Team

Front row from left:  Gary Carter, Paul Barker, George Holder, Robert Axline, Jackie Merriman

Middle row from left: Larry Green, Robbie Dawson, Arthur Harding, Steve Spurrier, David Hickman

Back row from left: Vice President Elsworth Carter, Manager Gene Green, Artie Oden, Tommy Lake, Alan Everhart, Coach Bob Dawson, Coach George Merriman (Paul Fowler & Charlie Smith was not present when this picture was taken)

1962, Brunswick begins play on new field

Following a delay of several weeks, the Brunswick Little League finally got into operation on Saturday. Playing on the new Marvin E. Younkins Field, The Cubs beat the Tigers 10-0. Gary Carter hurled a one-hitter and struck out 18 batters and walked five. All recorded outs by the Tigers were Carter strikeouts, a rare feat indeed. While Carter was re-writing the record book in the pitching department, David "Mousie" Hickman did some re-writing in the batting department. Hickman had two home runs in the same inning, the fifth when the Cubs scored 8 times. 

Until 1962, the Little League had played on a field that was located in the corner of the soon to be Brunswick High School parking lot across the street from the steps to the current Minor League & T-Ball fields. In 1961, with the new school under construction, the decision had been made to remove the existing Little League field and E. W. Scheer Stadium. The locations of todays Majors field and Minors & T-Ball fields was at one time the town's dump.

1962, Brunswick suffers 5-4 defeat in District title game

BRUNSWICK 4  WESTMINSTER 0

District All-Star action in '62 began on a high note as far as the local area was concerned. Gary Carter pitched a no-hitter in leading Brunswick over Westminister 4-0. Not only was it the second no hitter in All-Star play by a Brunswick player, but Carter, a hard throwing righthander, struck out 17 of the possible 18 outs in the game. It was Westminister's first season in District play.

BRUNSWICK 12  EMMITSBURG 11 

The locals advanced to play Emmitsburg and almost had disaster strike. Leading Emmitsburg 12-4 in the final inning, the northern county team came back with seven runs before finally falling 12-11.

FREDERICK NATIONAL 5  BRUNSWICK 4 

Brunswick then met Frederick National for the District title, and despite the City team getting but two hits in the game, Railroader errors hurt in a 5-4 loss and elimination.

Clyde "Red" Hawes skippered the 1962 Railroaders. Bobby Dawson was his coach. Gary Carter went on to play minor league baseball. He was drafted by the Washington Senators and reached the AAA level before arm injuries shortened his career.  

Maryland State Tournament 
Host - Frederick (District 2)
At Staley Stadium

Tournament Results:

Quarterfinal Round:
Aberdeen 4, Hamilton 3
Hagerstown West End 22, Cambridge 0

Semifinal Round:
Frederick National 4, Aberdeen 2
Hagerstown West End 8, Brooklyn Park 1

Championship Game:
Hagerstown West End 13, Frederick National 4 (TITLE)

.

1962 All-Star Team

In this photo: Steve Spurrier, Tommy Nuse, Bob Dawson - coach, Steve Spurrier, Mike Webber, Dave Axline, Paul Taylor, Robby Dawson, Mousey Hickman, Gary Carter, Stanford King, Jimmy Haller, Mark Webber, Mike Shores, Clyde 'Red' Hawes - manager , Dale French

1963, BRLL knocked out in second round

BRUNSWICK 1  EAST FREDERICK 0 

Two one-hitter pitching performances highlighted the first round of the '63 Districts.Jimmy Haller fired an one-hitter as Brunswick beat East Frederick 1-0. The lone run for the local team came in the sixth inning on a Neil Wilhelm single. The other one-hitter was hurled by American's Petey Cooper in a 3-0 win over Emmitsburg. East Frederick was the fifth county and third Frederick city team to join the area Little League program.

FREDERICK NATIONAL 9  BRUNSWICK 1 

In second round play the National League of Frederick ousted Brunswick 9-1 as Maurice Boyd gave the locals but 5 base hits. The National League went on to down Sykesville 8-2 for the District crown. Frederick got to the State championship game and was beaten by Stembridge of Baltimore 1-0.

Clyde "Red" Hawes was the manager and Bobby Dawson was the coach of the '63 Brunswick All-Star team.   

Maryland State Tournament 
Host - Hagerstown American (District 1)
At Hager Field

Tournament Results:

Quarterfinal Round:
Stembridge 5, South Baltimore 3
Frederick National 6, Hagerstown National 5

Semifinal Round:
Stembridge 2, North East 1
Frederick National 5, East Salisbury 3

Championship Game:
Stembridge 1, Frederick National 0 (TITLE)

1964, BRLL gets it's third District tile 

DISTRICTS 

BRUNSWICK 9  FREDERICK AMERICAN 5 

Brunswick jumped to a first round District game win by knocking off Frederick American 9 to 5. Meanwhile, defending District champion Frederick National was ousting east Frederick 9-2.

BRUNSWICK 22  THURMONT 1 

In second round play Brunswick scored 10 runs in the first inning on its way to a 22 to 1 rout of Thurmont. The Railroaders had 5 homers, three from Mark Webber. The Webber homers came in the first, third and fifth innings, and gave hime eight RBI's for the game. Mike Deener and Neil Wilhelm had the other Brunswick homers. Winning pitcher Joey Himes struck out 11. 

BRUNSWICK 4  FREDERICK NATIONAL 0 

Playing the National League in the District title game, Neil Wilhelm tossed a three-hitter and fanned 10 as Brunswick won 4-0. 

STATES 

LEAKIN PARK 7  BRUNSWICK 5

In the first round of State playoffs Brunswick took on Leakin Park and was quickly eliminated 7-5.

Bobby Dawson managed the '64 squad. Clyde "Red" Hawes was the coach.    

Maryland State Tournament 
Host - Salisbury (District 6)
At City Park

Tournament Results:

Quarterfinal Round:
Fruitland 4, Arbutus 3
Leakin Park 7, Brunswick Railroaders 5

Semifinal Round:
Hagerstown National 9, Fruitland 1
North East 4, Leakin Park 3

Championship Game:
Hagerstown National 3, North East 2 (TITLE)

1965, BRLL repeats and gets it's fourth District title in 6 years 

DISTRICTS 

BRUNSWICK 16  FREDERICK AMERICAN 0 

Joey Himes reached the 17-strikeout plateau as he fired a two hitter in a Brunswick 16-0 blanking of Frederick American. East Frederick upset Frederick National 8-2, but was quickly brought back to earth when Sykesville ousted the City team 6-1.

BRUNSWICK 22  THURMONT 2 

The Railroaders continued to win by a big score, routing Thurmont 22-2. Dave McLane and Mitch Deener swatted home runs for Brunswick.

BRUNSWICK 5  SYKESVILLE 3

Eleven year old Mitch Deener scattered 4 hits as the local team edged Sykesville 5-3 for the District championship.

STATES 

BRUNSWICK 15  MARLEY 0 

In the State opener at Elkton, Brunswick looked impressive in blanking Marley 15-0 behind Himes' one-hitter and 15 strikeouts. Dick Haller hit 2 home runs in the contest.

HAGERSTOWN 4  BRUNSWICK 2 

BRLL's game one win proved to be the high point as the locals season ended in a 4-2 loss to Hagerstown in the State final. 

Paul Orrison and Doug "Poon" Lewis were manager and coach of the 1965 All-Star team.   

Maryland State Tournament 
Host - Elkton Community (District 5)
At Eder Park

Tournament Results:

Quarterfinal Round:
Marley Area 9, West Salisbury 6
Hagerstown National 4, Leakin Park 3

Semifinal Round:
Hagerstown National 2, North East 1
Brunswick Railroaders 15, Marley Area 0

Championship Game:
Hagerstown National 4, Brunswick Railroaders 2 (TITLE)

Front row from left:  Stanley Hawes, Mike Campbell, Buddy Cunningham, Donnie Care, Danny Payne, Mark Hanes

Middle row from left: Wayne Daugherty, Craig Crowl, PL Orrison, Ronnie Mentzer, Mitch Deener

Back row from left: Manager Paul Orrison, Ronnie Pearl, Jimmy Webber, Brent Albert, Coach Doug 'Poon' Lewis

1966 Key to Kentucky

1966, the third District crown in a row and first State championship 

The year would prove to be a very special one for the Brunswick Little League. Not only would the local organization win it's third straight District title, but it would also capture it's first State championship and enter Sectional playoff action in Louisville, Kentucky.

DISTRICT 

BRUNSWICK 9  SYKESVILLE 0 

The Railroader league opened All-Star play in '66 by shutting out Sykesville 9-0 on a Mitch Deener one-hitter.

BRUNSWICK 7  WESTMINSTER 3 

The pitching continued to be top notch as P.L. Orrison tossed a three-hitter and the locals downed Westminister 7-3 in second round action. 

BRUNSWICK 4  EAST FREDERICK 1 

Brunswick met East Frederick for the District crown and dropped the City team 4-1 behind Deener's five-hit pitching and an Orrison home run. 

STATES

BRUNSWICK 2  SALISBURY 0 

In the State opener in Hagerstown against Salisbury, Brunswick manager Paul Orrison, (Doug "Poon" Lewis was coach), surprisingly selected Jimmy Webber as the starting pitcher. Webber responded with the best pitched game of the State tourney, firing a one-hit gem as Brunswick won 2-0. The young righthander just missed a no-hitter when he slipped while going after a second inning Salisbury bunt which was ruled a base hit. Webber struck out 5 and walked 1. Brunswick catcher Brent Albert, whose father George Albert was the Railroader Little League's first president, walloped a second inning home-run was robbed of another homer in the third by the Salisbury centerfielder.

BRUNSWICK 6  BEL AIR 2 

Brent Albert continued to shine as he blasted a grand slam home run in the State semi-final game, leading Brunswick over Bel Air 6-2 and finishing the game with 5 RBI's. Mitch Deener also had a home run as P.L. Orrison hurled a five-hitter. 

BRUNSWICK 12  FOREST PARK 2 

Mitch Deener then tossed a two-hitter at Forrest Park as Brunswick won 12-2 to capture the local league's first State flag. The Railroader stars were shaky on defense, committing six errors, but Deener's fastball kept turning back any Forrest Park threats as he fanned 12. Jimmy Webber hit a home run and a single. Brent Albert went 3 for 4 and Orrision was 2 for 2. Needless to say Brunswick fans went wild! 

REGIONALS 

BRUNSWICK 12  DELAWARE 4 

What was referred to in 1966 as the Sectionals, and now is called the Regionals, was held in Louisville, Kentucky. Many Brunswick area folks were on hand as Brunswick opened with a 12-4 handling of Delaware. The Delaware entry led 3-1 going into the bottom of the fifth inning when the Brunswick All-Stars responded in thrilling fashion, scoring 11 runs on six hits to leave no doubt as to the outcome.

VIRGINIA 4  BRUNSWICK 3 

The Orrison managed team led early against Virginia 2-0, thanks to back to back home runs by Brent Albert and Craig Crowl in the second inning. But Virginia managed a single tally in the bottom of the second and took a 3-2 lead on a Richard Needham home run in the third. Virginia led the rest of the way in beating Brunswick by a final score of 4-3 and ended Brunswick's most successful season to date.   

Maryland State Tournament 
Host - Hagerstown National (District 1)
At Staley Field

Tournament Results:

Quarterfinal Round:
Brunswick Railroaders 2, West Salisbury 0
Hagerstown West End 7, Arbutus 0

Semifinal Round:
Brunswick Railroaders 6, Bel Air 2
Forest Park 6, Hagerstown West End 2

Championship Game:
Brunswick Railroaders 12, Forest Park 4 (TITLE)

1967, Thurmont knocks locals out in first round shocker

Coming off three tremendously successful years in the Districts and two in the States, it was a real shocker in 1967 when Brunswick was defeated by Thurmont on a John Stitely two-hitter in the opening round of the Districts. It marked the first time since 1957 that the Railroaders failed to win the opening round of District All-Star play. The manager was Joe Gordon. The coach was Beans Gaither.  

Maryland State Tournament 
Host - Arbutus (District 4)

Tournament Results:

Quarterfinal Round:
Easton 3, Northwest Baltimore 0
Rising Sun 1, Marley Area 0

Semifinal Round:
Hagerstown West End 3, Easton 2 (8 innings)
Westminster 6, Rising Sun 2

Championship Game:
Westminster 7, Hagerstown West End 1 (5 innings, rain; TITLE)

1968, Brunswick wins District and plays in State tournament they host

Brunswick was hosting it's first State tournament in '68, but unlike other leagues where the host league gets an automatic berth - in Little League, the only way to play in your own hosted tourney is to win in the Districts. So the Brunswick team had a lot of pressure on it entering District play in '68. 

Brunswick got off to a grand start in the '68 Districts when Larry "Frankie" Zientek hurled a no-hitter in a Railroader 10-0 romp over East Frederick. Zientek gave the City team but 2 walks while fanning 8. Kevin Gordon socked two home runs for Brunswick. David Webber also banged a four-bagger as he and Gordon both went 4 for 4 in the batter's box.

In second round District action Brunswick and Frederick American hooked up in a game that took 10 innings before a winner could be determined. The game, played in Brunswick, had to be stopped after 9 innings because of falling darkness with the score tied 1-1. Kenny Pearl pitched all nine innings for Brunswick, the most allowed for any pitcher in All-Star play. Pearl struck out 10 and walked 2. 

The game was resumed the very next day, a Thursday, at the exact point it had left off the day before. After Brunswick's second pitcher, Kendall Gordon, retired the first three American batters in the top of the tenth, Pearl quickly brought the large contingent of fans to their feet by dramatically hitting a one-one pitch out of the park in centerfield against Frederick pitcher Mike Showe, ending the game with a 2-1 Brunswick win. 

Showe had taken over mound duties for the City team's starting pitcher Denny Betson beginning the ninth frame. Pearl finished the long game with three of Brunswick's six hits and drove in both runs, having plated Zientek with a hit in the fifth. Frederick's lone run in the memorable contest came on a homer by Steve Baker. 

The Railroaders then rolled over Frederick National by an 11-2 score to take the Districts and advance to it's own held State tournament. It marked the only time during single elimination District play that a local team defeated all three Frederick Little League teams..

Zientek, the no-hit hurler in the District opener, gave the Nationals but 4 hits and fanned 9 while Kevin Gordon and Randy Fowler drilled home rins. Gordon was 3 for 3 in the game while George "Junior" Lowery, Greg Loy and Fowler each had 2 hits.

The entire Brunswick area had baseball fever, perhaps stirred by memories of the 1966 State adventure, as the State tourney opened in Brunswick on August 1. But the overwhelming enthusiasm was short lived as the local team was stunned 5-0 by Forest Park in the opening round. Poppy Lewis managed the'68 All-Stars and Red Hawes was the coach.   

Maryland State Tournament 
Host - Brunswick Railroaders (District 2)

Tournament Results:

Quarterfinal Round:
Forest Park 5, Brunswick Railroaders 0
Hagerstown National 9, Elkton 0

Semifinal Round:
Forest Park 7, Worcester-Wicomico 2
Hagerstown National 3, Harundale 2

Championship Game:
Hagerstown National 3, Forest Park 0 (TITLE)

1969, Brunswick captures second State title

Brunswick opened District play by edging east Frederick 4-3 on a three-hitter hurled by Britt Orrison, who also smashed a homerun. In second round action Kendall Gordon allowed the Frederick American league but two hits as the Railroaders won 5-2. Randy Fowler slammed a grand-slam homer.

The Railroaders captured the District crown as Greg Simons hit a two-run double in the fifth to lead the locals over Sykesville 3-2.

With the State tournament being held in Baltimore, the local champs got off to a great start by downing Elkton 7-3. Terry Darr hit a three-run home run and Simons and Gordon blasted solo shots. Orrison was the winning pitcher.

Gordon pitched a two-hit shutout and struck out 14 as Brunswick knocked off Hagerstown 4-0. Keith Reynolds hammered a round-tripper.

Brunswick and Salisbury then met for the State championship and ii was no contest, with the Railroaders winning by an 11-2 count. Orrison tossed four innings of one-hit baseball in relief and added a three-run homer. Randy Cooper, Randy Fowler and Gordon also swatted four baggers.

The hero in State play had to be Greg Simons. The hard nosed Simons got on base all ten times he went to the plate. He had seven base hits. Counting the District title game against Sykesville, Simons was on base thirteen straight times!

The Mid-Atlantic Sectionals were being held in near by Hagerstown, but Brunswick fell to Delaware 3-1 in the opening round. The Railroaders got but one base hit in the game, that a solo homer off of Gordon's bat. Orrison lost a three-hitter.

The manager of the '69 State championship team was Paul Orrison and the coach was "Poon" Lewis.

Maryland State Tournament 
Host - Leakin Park (Baltimore) (District 3)
At Sloman Field

Tournament Results:

Quarterfinal Round:
Brunswick Railroaders 7, Elkton Community 3
South Baltimore 19, Carroll Park 7

Semifinal Round:
Brunwick Railroaders 4, Hagerstown National 0
East Salisbury 7, South Baltimore 1

Championship Game:
Brunswick Railroaders 11, East Salisbury 2 (TITLE)